President Donald Trump said U.S. and Iranian officials met on Tuesday, shortly after he warned in his address to the United Nations General Assembly that he might "annihilate" the Islamic Republic if a deal is not reached soon to end the nearly seven-month war.

Trump confirmed the talks in an exchange with reporters but offered few details about how the discussions unfolded or what was actually said.

"It was a very good meeting," Trump said.

Trump's address to the General Assembly

Earlier Tuesday, Trump used his address to the General Assembly to argue that he has shown fortitude while other leaders have equivocated, defending his decision to start a war with Iran. He also suggested the conflict could be at a crossroads, calling on the Islamic Republic to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz and return to the negotiating table to reach a settlement.

"I have a big decision to make," Trump said. "Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world. Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?"

The wide-ranging speech touched on other subjects as well. Trump celebrated this year's U.S. military operation that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, touted a new agreement to expand the U.S. military presence in Greenland, and pushed back against calls for greater regulation of the artificial intelligence industry.

At its core, however, the address amounted to a fulsome defense of the war and a rejection of the idea that Iran has shown a measure of resilience.

"The terrorist regime is behaving badly, not because they are strong and confident, but because they are weak and desperate," Trump said.

Trump also accused Iran of deliberately stalling — holding off on a deal to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz and negotiate an endgame to the war until after the U.S. midterm elections. He insisted the tactic would have no effect on how he approaches the conflict.

Most of Iran's delegation walked out of the chamber as Trump denounced the Islamic Republic.

A crowded day of sideline diplomacy

After the speech, Trump joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on the sidelines of the General Assembly to sign a new security agreement. The deal, announced last week, came together after Trump repeatedly threatened to "take over" Greenland, a territory of NATO ally Denmark, by military force if necessary. Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. will immediately begin developing a larger military presence in Greenland, including "building two very major military bases." Under the agreement, Greenland remains Denmark's territory.

Trump also held talks with new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham; the leaders said they discussed migration, the conflict in Iran, the Russia-Ukraine war and more. He also met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and, according to the White House, will hold a more informal meeting with Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez.

Trump is further scheduled to meet with leaders and senior officials from Gulf Cooperation Council nations — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — to discuss the way ahead in the war with Iran and growing concern about recent attacks on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed rebels. He also plans to take part in an event on the Shield of Americas, an initiative he launched with Latin American countries earlier this year focused on combatting violent cartels.

A politically charged moment

The visit to the U.N. comes as Trump's foreign policy approach — particularly his decision to start the war with Iran — has become a drag on his fellow Republicans' hopes of retaining control of both chambers of Congress in the coming midterm elections. Trump nevertheless argued in his speech that the world is better off for his leadership.

"As president of the most extraordinary nation in history," Trump said, "I have no interest in leaving dangers to grow for another day. I do not believe in letting problems fester."

In last year's address at the U.N., Trump claimed the U.S. had "demolished" Iran's nuclear capabilities after he ordered the June 2025 bombardment of three key facilities. He returned to the General Assembly nearing the seven-month mark of a new war against Iran, one he insists is necessary to address the nuclear threat posed by the country.

The war has grown more complicated even though strikes by the United States and Israel have killed much of Iran's top leadership and destroyed its air force and navy, while a U.S. blockade of Iranian oil has left Tehran in economic shambles.

Energy markets on edge

Energy markets continue to be spooked by the war and oil prices remain elevated. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia shuttered a key pipeline that had acted as a relief valve for oil blocked in the Gulf, after the pipeline came under attack by Iran-backed militants in Iraq. At the same time, territorial grabs by Yemen-based Houthi rebels, another Iranian-backed group, near the Bab al-Mandab Strait have made it treacherous for oil carriers to use that Red Sea shipping lane.

Trump insisted anew that elevated oil prices are a transitory problem that will fade once the war ends.

"Oil prices will come plummeting down even lower than they were at the start of the conflict," Trump said. "And they were very low in the United States. They were really low."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Trump is open to meeting with Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, while he is in New York for the General Assembly.

"This is a president that will meet with anybody for the most part, because he believes that engaging with people is important if you're going to solve problems," Rubio said on NBC's "Today" show. "It doesn't mean you're going to end up agreeing with them, but it's important."

The war in Ukraine and the energy truce

The president also addressed Russia's continuing war against Ukraine during his U.N. address — a conflict he predicted during his 2024 campaign would be resolved on Day One of his second term. He once again expressed hope that the conflict will soon be resolved.

Trump has made no secret that his patience is being tested by Ukraine's targeting of Russia's diesel refineries — an issue that has added to volatility in global oil markets — and by Russia's targeting of Ukraine's energy grid. Last week, he asserted that he had gotten the two sides to agree not to target each other's energy infrastructure.

Zelenskyy, who was scheduled to meet with Trump on Tuesday afternoon, said he was willing to go along with Trump's plan if Russia abided by it. Russia said it could only go along with the energy truce proposal if Western energy sanctions on Moscow were lifted first. The two sides have continued carrying out strikes on refineries and other energy infrastructure.

Trump noted that last week he signed a new sanctions bill targeting Moscow. It empowers him to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas. The legislation includes an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia's natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports. Trump, however, has yet to enact the stiff penalties.

"If necessary, I will have to use them," Trump said. "It's time to stop the killing."

---

Associated Press Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this story.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com.