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Trump says he is weighing whether to ‘annihilate’ Iran

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Cite

Rascius, B. (2026, September 17). Trump says he is weighing whether to ‘annihilate’ Iran. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-war-threats-annihilate-un-b3052129.html

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The Independent · collected 2026-09-17 · by Brendan Rascius

Quick Summary

President Donald Trump told Axios that he is considering whether to “annihilate” Iran as the ongoing war nears its seven-month mark with no clear end in sight. This comes amid an escalating conflict where vessel strikes have occurred recently in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical trade route. The U.S.-Iran war has cost $38 billion and resulted in 18 American service member deaths, while over 3,000 Iranian casualties have been reported by HRANA.
Written by AI on 2026-09-18, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).
See how they differ ↓

AI analysis

Story summary

As of September 2026, President Donald Trump told reporters that the U.S. is "hopefully toward the end" of its ongoing war with Iran, which began on February 28 and has lasted for seven months. Despite this hopeful statement, there are no clear timelines or significant de-escalation efforts in sight. The conflict continues to disrupt global oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up oil prices to over $108 per barrel. Additionally, Iran's foreign minister is under pressure from China and international concerns to reopen the strait and return to a previous interim peace deal with the U.S.

Meanwhile, tensions have escalated beyond Iran into Yemen, where Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, pose significant threats near the Red Sea, complicating efforts at regional stability. The conflict has also drawn in other nations such as Saudi Arabia, which is offering extra crude oil through Oman to ease supply disruptions and stabilize oil prices.

At the United Nations General Assembly, Trump further alarmed global leaders by threatening to "annihilate" Iran if necessary, raising concerns about the potential for catastrophic outcomes involving nuclear weapons. This rhetoric contrasts sharply with past U.S. presidents who emphasized caution regarding such extreme measures. Despite these challenges, there is an urgent need for multilateral solutions and effective engagement through international bodies like the UN to address ongoing conflicts and crises around the world.

Written for “Trump's UN Speech Controversies” on 2026-11-13, grounded in this article and the 206 other(s) covering the same event.

How they differ

29 outlets covered “Trump's UN Speech Controversies”.

What each outlet says

One AI summary per outlet of its latest article on this story, written from that article alone and checked against it. Open the article for the outlet's own words.

The IndependentThis outlet17 Sep

President Donald Trump told Axios that he is considering whether to “annihilate” Iran as the ongoing war nears its seven-month mark with no clear end in sight. This comes amid an escalating conflict where vessel strikes have occurred recently in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical trade route. The U.S.-Iran war has cost $38 billion and resulted in 18 American service member deaths, while over 3,000 Iranian casualties…

Trump says he is weighing whether to ‘annihilate’ Iran (this article)21 articles from The Independent on this story
Al Jazeera23 Sep

During a session of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, a U.S. envoy left in protest while Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a speech criticizing what he called a "war" against Iran. Similarly, representatives from Israel were not present for the duration of Pezeshkian's address.

US envoy walks out on Pezeshkian UN speech slamming war on Iran →20 articles from Al Jazeera on this story
The Straits Times24 Sep

President Donald Trump urged countries to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC) during the UN General Assembly, describing it as “evil” and a “rogue institution.” Only Nauru has followed this directive so far among the 125 nations that are parties to the Rome Statute. The U.S. has launched a campaign against the ICC, imposing financial sanctions and visa bans on its staff, while some countries like Venezuela…

Trump tells countries to quit ICC. Few follow his lead →16 articles from The Straits Times on this story
Toronto Star23 Sep

Mark Carney observed starkly different visions of world order at the UN General Assembly from António Guterres and Donald Trump. While Guterres emphasized multilateralism and addressed concerns like climate change and AI regulation, Trump focused on U.S. dominance and unilateral actions. Carney aligned more closely with Guterres' views, advocating for "values-based realism" that combines dialogue and action rather…

At the UN, a tale of two world orders — and the growing divide between Canada and Trump's America →11 articles from Toronto Star on this story
New York Post24 Sep

President Trump threatened to annihilate Iran during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2026, reigniting debates about the ethics and legality of such threats. Critics argue that this approach weakens U.S. credibility and violates international law, while supporters claim it shows strength and commitment to American interests. The article presents various viewpoints from readers…

Trump’s threat to the Iranian regime — Sept. 25, 2026 →10 articles from New York Post on this story
The Hindu25 Sep

The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly marks a critical period for the organization, as Secretary-General António Guterres concludes his tenure amid numerous crises and conflicts. The assembly saw more than 65 ongoing conflicts globally in 2025, the highest number since 1946. This year’s summit highlighted the UN's weakened state due to increasing global polarization and unilateral actions by major…

Overweight and weak: On the UN, the 81st session of the UN General Assembly →9 articles from The Hindu on this story
Show 23 more outlets
NBC News23 Sep

During his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian responded defiantly to US threats, vowing not to limit his country's nuclear program despite President Trump’s previous day declaration that he might "annihilate" Iran. Pezeshkian highlighted Iranian resilience and defense capabilities while displaying images of civilian casualties, including children killed in…

Iran’s president strikes a defiant tone at U.N. after Trump threats →9 articles from NBC News on this story
CBS News23 Sep

On Tuesday during the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. and Iranian envoys held indirect talks mediated by Qatar. The U.S. side described these discussions as "constructive" but did not provide details. Meanwhile, President Trump warned of potential military action against Iran if a deal is not reached, while Iran's foreign ministry spokesman dismissed Trump’s threats as desperate and a sign of weakness.

U.S., Iran hold first talks since June as Trump threatens annihilation →9 articles from CBS News on this story
Washington Examiner25 Sep

The Wall Street Journal highlights world leaders' consensus that the United Nations is failing, particularly regarding its inability to prevent conflicts and its governance structure permitting vetoes by five major powers. The article extends this critique beyond conflict prevention to include the U.N.’s role in cultural preservation despite facilitating mass illegal migration, as noted by President Donald Trump.

Hot air wafts from the East River →9 articles from Washington Examiner on this story
Daily Mail23 Sep

Iran responded to President Donald Trump’s UN speech, where he threatened to ‘annihilate’ Iran if it does not make a deal, by warning that any US attack would result in “crushing blows” against America. The Iranian Armed Forces issued a statement through Press TV asserting that the country would deliver harsh retaliation to aggressors, undermining Trump's rhetoric about altering power dynamics. Meanwhile, oil prices…

Iran warns it is ready to 'inflict crushing blows' on US after Trump threatened to 'annihilate' regime in UN speech →8 articles from Daily Mail on this story
Times of India22 Sep

During his address at the UN General Assembly, US President Donald Trump discussed his "big decision" regarding Iran, presenting two extreme options: either striking a deal that could lead to Iran’s economic recovery and regional influence or destroying the regime entirely. Trump emphasized ongoing international pressure on Iran and invoked past terrorist attacks linked to Iran to argue against Tehran developing…

Deal or annihilation? Trump speaks about his 'big' Iran dilemma at UNGA →7 articles from Times of India on this story
Fox News23 Sep

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a contentious speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Wednesday, defending his nation’s actions against U.S. aggression while under international pressure from ongoing conflict and diplomatic tension. Protesters gathered outside to denounce Iran's government, with some former political figures like Rudy Giuliani participating in demonstrations…

The top moments from Iran president’s tense visit to US soil as war rages →7 articles from Fox News on this story
The Guardian26 Sep

In his final UN speech before stepping down, French President Emmanuel Macron criticized the unilateral approach championed by US President Donald Trump and called for upholding international law and multilateralism. Macron challenged leaders to choose between living under a "law of the jungle" or in a civilized society, directly confronting Trump’s aggressive stance on Iran and other issues. Despite offering a…

In his final UN speech, Macron may have given other leaders a valuable parting gift: the guts to stand up to Trump | Steve Bloomfield →7 articles from The Guardian on this story
Euronews23 Sep

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly, accusing the United States and Israel of illegal attacks against Iranian civilians while the U.S. delegation walked out in protest. He emphasized Iran’s stance that it will not negotiate under threat, telling Trump specifically, "Yes they did hit us, but we did not bend the knee." Pezeshkian also asserted Iran's right to develop…

Pezeshkian tells UN Iran will not be bullied but will negotiate →5 articles from Euronews on this story
BBC23 Sep

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the UN General Assembly, stating that his country will not submit to pressure from the United States and Israel despite ongoing conflict since February. In response to President Trump's threat to “annihilate” Iran, Pezeshkian emphasized Iran’s resistance against sanctions and bullying would intensify. He also demanded an end to the US blockade of Iranian ships and ports…

Iran's president tells Trump it will never 'bend the knee' →5 articles from BBC on this story
South China Morning Post26 Sep

US President Donald Trump is advocating for the term "superintelligence" (SI) to replace "artificial intelligence" (AI) in government documents and diplomatic communications, aiming to include China’s cooperation on this terminology change during discussions at the United Nations General Assembly. The US State Department has already instructed its diplomats to use SI instead of AI in all future communications. A…

Amid many thorny issues with China, Trump pushes to rename AI as superintelligence →5 articles from South China Morning Post on this story
Sydney Morning Herald27 Sep

The article discusses how the United States under the Trump administration has become delinquent on UN dues, falling behind even conflict-ridden nations like Haiti, Somalia, and Congo in terms of financial responsibility. It highlights the increasing number of global conflicts and challenges that require international cooperation but are instead being sidelined by major powers, rendering the UN less effective than…

Yes, the UN is terrible – but right now, we need it desperately →5 articles from Sydney Morning Herald on this story
Dawn23 Sep

As world leaders gather for the UN General Assembly in New York, diplomatic efforts are aimed at resolving ongoing conflicts, particularly those involving Iran and the Middle East. Pakistan's interior minister met with Iranian officials to discuss peaceful solutions, while Qatar has relayed Iran’s conditions for resuming talks with the US, including an end to hostilities and sanctions against Iran. The article…

Renewed peace push →4 articles from Dawn on this story
NPR26 Sep

This opinion piece contrasts President Trump's recent U.N. speech with those of past presidents, highlighting a shift in rhetoric regarding nuclear weapons and their use. The author notes that while former leaders used strong but measured language when discussing the potential for nuclear conflict, Trump's speech included threats of annihilation without offering similar caution or diplomatic considerations.

OPINION: Trump's U.N. speech, a stark contrast with past presidents →4 articles from NPR on this story
The Globe and Mail23 Sep

Iran’s President delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, during which he accused the United States of committing acts of terrorism against his people and characterized Iranians as victims. This was described as a rare wartime address given the current tensions between Iran and the US.

Iran's president addresses UN General Assembly →3 articles from The Globe and Mail on this story
ABC News (US)22 Sep

President Donald Trump addressed global leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday, also meeting with key leaders on the sidelines of the event. The article notes that this is a developing story and encourages readers to check back for further updates and to follow ABC News Live for continued coverage.

Trump addresses global leaders at United Nations General Assembly →2 articles from ABC News (US) on this story
Time25 Sep

European leaders are defending the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Donald Trump's call for countries to withdraw from it. During the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten both voiced strong support for the court, emphasizing its role in holding nations accountable for war crimes. They rejected Trump’s criticism of the…

‘Hands Off!’: European Leaders Reject Trump's Call to Quit the ICC →2 articles from Time on this story
Reason18 Sep

President Donald Trump initiated what he termed a "short-term" war with Iran in February 2026, promising it would last only four to five weeks. However, seven months later, the conflict continues with no end in sight. Key aspects include soaring diesel fuel prices and airline flight cancellations due to high jet fuel costs, as well as a U.S.-Saudi joint command involving about 100 U.S. military advisers to address…

Trump's 4-Week War With Iran Approaches Month 7 →
Los Angeles Times22 Sep

President Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York, threatening severe escalation against Iran if negotiations do not resolve its nuclear program issues. With less than a third of Americans approving of his handling of the ongoing war with Iran, Trump vowed to either negotiate a deal or “annihilate” Iran before the upcoming midterm elections. His speech also emphasized U.S. military readiness…

Trump threatens to send Iran 'into hell' if war carries on →
National Post23 Sep

President Donald Trump revealed at the United Nations that U.S. and Iranian officials held three hours of talks on September 19, described as "very productive" and scheduled for future continuation. This came after Trump's speech where he threatened to “annihilate” Iran if no deal is made. The meeting involved Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner from the U.S., and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Despite Trump’s…

At UN, Trump threatens Iran with ‘hell,’ then after reveals the two sides had ‘very productive’ talks →
Zeteo23 Sep

This article is an opinion piece discussing Donald Trump's speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2020. The author criticizes Trump for threatening other nations and bragging about military interventions and oil deals with Venezuela. According to the article, Trump threatened Cuba and Iran during his speech and declared that when you're America, they let you engage in pillaging, looting, and extra-legal…

🇺🇳 Trump’s Disgusting UN Speech: When You’re America, They Let You Do It →
CBC23 Sep

U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to international relations is causing significant disruption in global alliances. At the United Nations General Assembly, Trump emphasized America's dominance and reiterated his "America First" policy while threatening nations such as Iran and considering shifting economic ties away from traditional allies like Canada towards countries with questionable democratic credentials…

Trump is reshaping U.S. alliances. The world is taking notice →
ABC News (AU)23 Sep

Iran's president addressed the UN General Assembly in New York while his country is at war with the United States, declaring Iran a "victim of terrorism" and vowing never to submit to U.S. or Israeli pressure. He emphasized Iran’s readiness for dialogue without accepting forceful language, highlighting that Tehran would endure rather than surrender. The speech came as both countries suggested some level of…

'Victims of terrorism': Iran's president tells UN 'we will never bow' to US →
Global News23 Sep

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a defiant speech at the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, denouncing the United States and Israel for attacking his country and declaring that Iran will fight "until our last breath." He presented large photos of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and victims from the war’s first days to highlight Iranian casualties. Pezeshkian called out President Trump directly, urging…

Iran will fight ‘until our last breath,’ president says in UN speech →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 26% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
New York Post
Leans right Hedges 4 of 18 claims Outlet record 66/100
Times of India
Hedges 2 of 25 claims Outlet record 59/100
The Independent
Hedges 9 of 48 claims Outlet record 59/100
Reason
Leans left Hedges 8 of 41 claims Outlet record 67/100
Washington Examiner
Leans strongly right Hedges 2 of 40 claims Outlet record 68/100
“The articles describe different points in time during the ongoing war, one being an interview about considering further action ('annihilate') and the other a speech defending past actions and discussing potential future peace deals.”
Al Jazeera
Hedges 0 of 2 claims Outlet record 60/100
“The articles describe different aspects of the ongoing conflict; Article A discusses Trump's contemplation about military action against Iran, while Article B reports on sanctions and protests related to the war.”
CBS News
Hedges 0 of 3 claims Outlet record 68/100
“Article A focuses on Trump's comments about annihilating Iran, while Article B discusses both Houthi attacks and Trump being in 'deciding mode' regarding Iran.”
The Guardian
Leans strongly left Hedges 8 of 44 claims Outlet record 65/100
“The articles discuss different aspects of the situation in Iran and quotes from President Trump, but do not describe the same specific incident or occurrence.”

Story

Trump's UN Speech Controversies
Politics · 207 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↑
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
19
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
26%
5 of 19 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
withheld
no quote in the article backed the model's score
Publisher signals
59/100
The Independent's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
207
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-18 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

The Independent · 4279 article(s) · 10 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 10 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Brendan Rascius
127 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
“Our progress has ensured that losing ground in statehouses will forever be part of Trump’s legacy,” DLCC President Heather Williams said.
“That will be part of the continuing investigation.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed Trump on the relationship aboard Air Force One in May, shortly before Huang joined the president’s trip to China, The New York Times reported.
When questioned about a theoretical match-up against Vice President JD Vance last year, she said she would “stomp him.”
The article described Trump’s Monday evening call to C-SPAN as “unannounced” and noted that an unidentified woman could be heard laughing in the background. “The New York Times incorrectly reported that ‘Mr. Trump called into the premier of a C-Span show, APPARENTLY WITHOUT NOTICE,’” the president wrote.
As of Wednesday, Democrats are projected to win at least 54 Senate seats to Republicans’ 44 while easily claiming a majority in the House of Representatives.
Come January, the Oversight Committee will be chaired by a Democrat.
Rep. Thomas Massie predicted that, one way or another, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will be out of office by the end of the year.
As Trump joined the broadcast, a woman could be heard laughing on his end of the line.
Later, White noted that he had “a lot of jobs already” at a UFC press conference but said he would meet with Trump to discuss the role Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Also by Brendan Rascius
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 127 articles by Brendan Rascius →

Topics

Axios Iran Republican Tehran U.S.

Subjects

U.S. GPE · 6× Trump PERSON · 5× Iran GPE · 4× Axios ORG · 2× Donald Trump PERSON · 1× New York City GPE · 1× Republican NORP · 1× Saudi Arabia GPE · 1× Tehran GPE · 1× the United Nations General Assembly ORG · 1×

Narrative

Formal negotiations have not taken place since a memorandum of understanding — an informal peace agreement — collapsed in June. The president’s latest comments came days before the United Nations General Assembly convenes in New York City.
framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-18
Anything could happen with me.”
2026-09-18 · The Independent
Trump says he is weighing whether to ‘annihilate’ Iran · mixed framing

Claims (19 extracted, 5 hedged)

President Donald Trump said he is weighing whether to “annihilate” Iran as the war nears the seven-month mark with no clear end in sight. asserted
war → say → sight
“I have a big decision coming up,” the Republican president told Axios on Thursday. asserted
president → have → Thursday
“Do I want to go in and annihilate them or do I not? asserted
I → want → them
Anything could happen with me.” uncertain
Anything → happen → me
Trump has repeatedly invoked apocalyptic rhetoric when discussing Iran, including in April when he wrote on Truth Social that a “whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” asserted
civilization → invoke → Social
The war — which Trump initially predicted would last four to five weeks — has largely fallen into a stalemate, though some strikes have taken place this month, with vessels in the Strait of Hormuz coming under fire. asserted
vessels → predict → fire
Traffic through the waterway, a vital trade route, remains at low levels as both sides seek to assert control. asserted
sides → remain → control
This week, Trump said that the U.S. was “hopefully toward the end” of the war, adding that he had spoken directly with Tehran. asserted
he → say → Tehran
Over the weekend, he said: “I think it will be probably right after the midterms. asserted
it → say → midterms
They’re trying to hold out as long as they can to complicate the election.” asserted
they → try → election
Formal negotiations have not taken place since a memorandum of understanding — an informal peace agreement — collapsed in June. The president’s latest comments came days before the United Nations General Assembly convenes in New York City. asserted
Assembly → take → City
The diplomatic summit, scheduled for Tuesday, is expected to include a meeting on the sidelines among the leaders of six Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. asserted
summit → schedule → Arabia
That gathering could prove pivotal in determining the next phase of the conflict, which has engulfed large swaths of the Middle East. "I want to find out where they are and how they are doing. uncertain
they → prove → East
We have been very protective of them," Trump told Axios. asserted
Trump → tell → Axios
The war, which Trump insists is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, has resulted in the deaths of 18 U.S. service members and wounded hundreds more, the Pentagon has said. asserted
Pentagon → insist → hundreds
More than 3,000 Iranians have died, according to HRANA, a U.S.-based human rights group. uncertain
Iranians → die → HRANA
The conflict has also cost the U.S. some $38 billion and driven up fuel prices. asserted
conflict → cost → prices
As of Thursday, the average cost for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. stood at $4.43, up from $2.98 two days before the war broke out, according to AAA. uncertain
war → stand → AAA
Multiple recent polls indicate the Middle East conflict is broadly unpopular in the U.S. According to a Reuters survey released late last month, just 31 percent of Americans support the U.S. military action against Iran, down from 37 percent in March. uncertain
percent → indicate → March
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