Yasin Gungor
20 September 2026•Update: 20 September 2026
US President Donald Trump warned Sunday that he has entered a critical decision phase on the ongoing Iran war, cautioning that major developments will occur if Tehran fails to change its conduct.
"My question is if and when do I blow the entire nation up? They had better behave," Trump told US network Fox News, detailing his approach to the war.
The US president described his current options as wiping the country out, allowing it to "rot" economically, or negotiating a deal, adding that “very big things are going to be happening in the not-so-distant future.”
When asked about the UN General Assembly high-level week, which starts on Monday, Trump signaled a willingness to engage diplomatically, saying he would "probably be open" to meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Neither Tehran nor Pezeshkian immediately responded to Trump's remarks regarding a potential meeting.
The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) High-level Week is taking place from Sept. 18 to 28 at the UN Headquarters in New York, featuring the core General Debate from Sept. 22 to 28.
Addressing wider regional hostilities, Trump said Washington remains in constant communication with Yemen's Houthis following their recent ballistic missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, asserting that the group agreed to avoid fighting American forces.
Trump recently claimed that the war with Iran would "end after the midterms" of November.
The US State Department on Sunday issued a travel warning, citing escalating friction across the region.
It also cautioned that Iran and groups supporting it may target US interests, businesses, and institutions, as well as locations associated with Americans worldwide.
