A dramatic development emerged in Washington-Tehran relations amid the UN General Assembly meetings Tuesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that his team had held direct, lengthy talks with Iranian representatives lasting approximately three hours and ending just one hour before his remarks. Trump described the talks as “very good,” revealed that another meeting is planned in the near future, but presented the Iranian leadership with an unequivocal ultimatum: a deal or destruction.
President Trump on Iran:
Today, there was a meeting about an hour ago. It went very well. It ended an hour ago.
It was a meeting that lasted for three hours. It was a very good meeting. It’s a greatness, potential greatness, or obliteration.
In one case, it’s obliteration.… pic.twitter.com/uOh4jZpTq5
— World Source News (@Worldsource24) September 22, 2026
The dramatic talks included two of the president’s closest envoys, businessman and special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who handle sensitive diplomatic and international negotiations on his behalf. “There was a meeting today, about an hour ago. It went very well. It ended an hour ago,” Trump said. “It was a meeting that lasted three hours. We had a conversation with the Iranians, a very good meeting. I can’t understand why they don’t want a deal. It’s either a deal—or destruction.”
The president then sharpened what he described as the historic crossroads facing Tehran: “It’s greatness, the potential for greatness, or destruction. In one case, it’s destruction, and the other alternative is the potential for greatness. It can be a great country.” Trump’s remarks reveal that alongside the combative rhetoric in his address from the UN General Assembly podium, where he threatened direct military confrontation and prompted the Iranian delegation to walk out, an intensive, direct channel of communication has been operating behind the scenes.
Trump added that contacts had continued throughout the day and said he believes an agreement can ultimately be reached. Reuters separately reported Tuesday that Trump said talks with Iran were continuing and that he believed a settlement would eventually be reached.