Updated

In his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump devoted much of his 38-minute speech to Iran, warning that he faces a stark choice: sign a deal with Tehran after the US midterm elections or 'annihilate' the Islamic Republic and drive it 'into hell.' He repeated the threat in a separate meeting with Gulf and Arab leaders, saying Iran must act 'fast' to 'survive as a nation' given the financial isolation imposed by Washington. Trump barely mentioned Israel and did not mention Netanyahu by name. The remarks, seven months into the US-Iran war, framed the conflict as central to Trump's foreign policy legacy alongside Gaza and Latin America, with Trump touting what he called accomplishments against the 'bully of the Middle East.' His comments set the tone for a tense UNGA week in which direct contacts between US and Iranian officials proceeded in parallel with the public threats.