Iran’s president faces UN dilemma after Trump’s ‘annihilation’ threat

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is set to address the UN General Assembly Wednesday, facing a stark choice between diplomacy and aggression just hours after US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with "annihilation" in his own speech, prompting the Iranian delegation to walk out. Pezeshkian, a reformist elected in 2024, plans to blame the US and Israel for starting the Middle East war and alleged war crimes, while facing domestic backlash from hardliners for attending. The US denied visas to his media team, which Iran calls an attempt to hide the truth. A senior Iranian official signaled openness to revive diplomacy, offering to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the US eases military pressure. Trump remains in "deciding mode" and has not ruled out meeting his Iranian counterpart.