Trump threatens Iran with annihilation, predicts deal after midterms

President Donald Trump threatened to "annihilate" Iran during a UN General Assembly address on Tuesday, warning Tehran must choose between a deal with Washington or destruction, while predicting an agreement would follow the November US midterm elections. Trump framed the decision as allowing Iran to rebuild through negotiation or using overwhelming military force, claiming US operations had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program. He said Iran was waiting to see Republican midterm performance, but insisted elections would not influence his stance that Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon. Trump called for complete economic isolation of Iran, citing its support for terrorism and regional threats, while claiming its economy was devastated with inflation over 300 percent. He left open a diplomatic path, saying Iran could become a great nation if it reached an agreement.