Trump Says ‘A Lot Of Momentum’ For Iran Deal, Warns Time Is Running Out

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that there was “a lot of momentum” toward reaching a deal with Iran, as he met with Middle Eastern leaders on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, the emir of Qatar, the king of Jordan, the presidents of Turkey and Syria, Egyptian officials, and US Secretaries of State and Treasury.

Trump said his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, had held talks earlier in the day with Iranian intermediaries.

“The Iranians respect them both very much, and I think that’s important,” Trump said. “I think there’s a lot of momentum for them to make a deal. That’s what we’re hearing from everybody.”

Trump said Iran’s economy was “in really bad shape” and expressed hope that Tehran would take steps that would benefit its people.

“I hope they’re going to do something that’s really good for their people,” he said, adding that “the other alternative isn’t an acceptable alternative for anybody.”

Trump described the leaders at the meeting as some of America’s “greatest and closest friends, allies, and partners” who were working toward “a safer and more prosperous Middle East.”

He recalled that the same group had met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly a year earlier to discuss efforts to end the Gaza war, which he said was then raging “with no end in sight.”

Trump said the countries later helped broker what he called “a historic peace deal,” claiming the efforts had saved “hundreds of thousands of lives” and contributed to the creation of the Board of Peace.

“Nobody thought it was possible,” Trump said. “The people around this table made that possible.”

Trump said Iran’s nuclear programme was another major challenge his administration had sought to address during the year.

He credited Operation Epic Fury with crippling Iran’s navy, eliminating its air force, striking more than 90% of its weapons factories, and destroying hundreds of ballistic missile and drone storage facilities.

Trump also claimed that the operation had almost completely destroyed Iran’s air defence systems, decimated its “terrorist leadership” and damaged the country’s economy, with inflation exceeding 300%.

He credited Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with leading what he called “Operation Economic Outcast”, saying Washington was isolating Iran financially and increasing economic pressure on Tehran.

“We’re completely isolating Iran financially, and we’re just putting the pressure on because hopefully they’ll do the right thing fast before it’s too late,” Trump said.

“There’s going to be a time when it’s too late, and we won’t have a chance of letting them survive as a nation,” he added.

Trump also said the US Navy had cleared Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz and was helping restore oil shipments, claiming US forces had escorted more than 1 billion barrels of oil out of the Gulf.

He said Iranian attacks on shipping and neighbouring countries had highlighted the need to move Middle East energy infrastructure away from routes vulnerable to Iranian disruption.

Trump voiced support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and other alternative export routes.

“Together, we’re on the verge of overcoming challenges that have plagued this region for decades,” he said.

Referring to Iran’s previous influence in the region, Trump said Tehran had long been viewed as “the bully of the Middle East” but argued that it no longer held the same position.

“We continue to stand together … We’ll create a future for this region and the world that’s brighter than ever before,” Trump said.