Iran's military has fired back at former President Trump's aggressive rhetoric at the United Nations General Assembly, labeling his threats as signs of "strategic despair" in Washington's approach to Tehran. The sharp exchange comes as the US-Iran relationship remains fraught with uncertainty in both directions, with each side warning of potential escalation even as tentative contacts resume.
Responding on Wednesday to Trump's UN address threatening to "destroy" Iran, the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff issued a statement through the semi-official Mehr news agency asserting that his repeated, baseless threats reflect weakness rather than strength. The military warned that if the conflict intensifies further, Iran is prepared to launch strikes of greater magnitude than any previous actions.
Trump, speaking at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, framed the situation as a choice between reaching a deal or pursuing stronger military action, while urging other nations to back a "comprehensive economic isolation" of Iran. He later mentioned that US representatives had roughly three hours of contact with Iranian officials at UN headquarters, describing the talks as "very good."
Why talks are reopening but Iran's conditions remain unchanged
Despite confirmation from Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, that contacts occurred through Qatari mediation, Tehran has not abandoned its original negotiating terms. Baghaei stated that Iran's conditions conveyed to Washington include ending the war, halting US military operations, lifting the naval blockade and economic warfare, and releasing frozen Iranian assets. These proposals had previously been submitted to Washington through intermediaries.
Trump said he anticipates a potential agreement could materialize after the US midterm elections in November, suggesting Iran is biding its time to see how those elections play out. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, though no meeting with Trump has been arranged.
One of Iran's key demands in any exchange is the restoration of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday that Tehran could reopen this strategic waterway within a week if the US reduces military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports.
How the Strait of Hormuz has become the core issue affecting oil markets
The Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital global energy artery. Before the war, this passage handled roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas transportation. However, confirmed transit volumes for the seven days ending September 20 averaged just 6.98 million barrels per day, representing approximately 38% of the pre-war benchmark of 18.3 million barrels per day.
Iran's own crude exports have also been severely crippled by the blockade. Data from Kpler shows Iranian crude loadings have dropped to zero so far in September, compared with 893,000 barrels per day recorded in July. The latest US-Iran contacts have already influenced oil price expectations, with international benchmarks falling for five consecutive sessions. Alternative transport routes in the Gulf region are providing partial relief, as the Saudi east-west pipeline previously shut down due to Houthi attacks has reportedly resumed operations, currently moving crude at relatively low flow rates.
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