Trump Warns UN on Iran Nuclear Threat, Cites Oct. 7 Attack

At the UN General Assembly in New York, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the destruction in Gaza as the worst he has seen during his tenure and expressed concern about ethnic cleansing due to settlement expansion in the West Bank. Brazilian President Lula da Silva also criticized Israel. U.S. President Donald Trump, in remarks previewing his speech, stated that "Putin must end the war."

In excerpts released by the White House, Trump declared, "While others talked, I acted. While others talked about peace, I brought it. While others ignored threats, I confronted them." He referenced the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks and the upcoming third anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attack in Israel, which he said was carried out by Iran-funded terrorists who murdered 1,200 civilians, including Americans. Trump highlighted that Iran's Supreme Leader celebrated the massacre and questioned the implications of such a regime possessing nuclear capabilities, warning that "many preferred to look away." He also thanked the UN Security Council for a resolution condemning Iran's attacks on commercial shipping lanes.

Trump's remarks followed an Iranian official's claim that Tehran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. eased military pressure, an initiative reportedly approved by Iran's Supreme Leader and National Security Council head. The official also indicated that a meeting between Trump and Iran's President was not planned for the UN assembly but noted progress toward a potential agreement.

Meanwhile, major U.S. news networks, including Fox News, ABC, CBS, CNN, and NBC, announced they would cease their joint coverage of Trump at the UN General Assembly. This unprecedented move protests the White House's decision to revoke the press credentials of CNN, MSNBC, and Politico reporters and ban them from the White House. The Washington Post also stated it would not cover the event. These networks have historically shared the costs and responsibilities of covering presidential events. CNN was scheduled to broadcast Trump's speech, but its journalists were denied entry, leading the other networks to refuse to substitute for them. Media outlets not banned are expected to cover the events independently.

CNN, MSNBC, and Politico filed a joint lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking a temporary restraining order to reinstate their credentials. They argue the ban violates the First Amendment and constitutes illegal retaliation for critical coverage. The lawsuit cites a 1977 legal precedent prohibiting arbitrary credential revocation based on disagreement with reporters' views. The case is assigned to Judge Timothy Kelly, who previously ruled against Trump's attempt to ban CNN journalist Jim Acosta from the White House.