US and Iran meet on UNGA opening day despite Trump threat

Washington and Tehran opened the United Nations General Assembly week with a rare diplomatic exchange, meeting on the first day of the session despite President Donald Trump’s opening address in which he warned that the United States would “annihilate” Iran if the nation pursued its nuclear program. The talks, held at the UN headquarters in New York, were attended by senior officials from both governments, including the U.S. State Department’s senior adviser on Iran and Iran’s deputy foreign minister, who exchanged statements on the need to reduce regional tensions and explore avenues for renewed dialogue.

Trump’s remarks, delivered to a gathering of world leaders, marked a stark contrast to the private discussions, underscoring the divergent approaches within the U.S. administration toward Tehran. While the president’s speech emphasized a hardline stance, the bilateral meeting focused on confidence‑building measures, the potential for a future nuclear agreement, and the broader goal of stabilizing the Middle East. Both sides reported that the conversation was “constructive” and signaled a willingness to keep diplomatic channels open, setting a tentative tone for the multilateral debates that will dominate the UNGA session.