NEW YORK — U.S. President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to defend his administration’s military campaign against Iran, warning that he could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if Tehran does not reach an agreement to end the nearly seven-month conflict. Yet, hours later, Trump revealed that senior U.S. and Iranian officials had held a three-hour meeting in New York, opening an unexpected diplomatic channel amid the escalating confrontation.

Trump said his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with an Iranian delegation on the sidelines of the UN gathering. He described the talks as “very good” and “very productive,” while indicating that another meeting could take place soon. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was also reported to have met Witkoff, with discussions reportedly including conditions related to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy supplies.

In his 37-minute speech, Trump argued that U.S. military action had prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and urged other countries to increase economic pressure on Tehran. He said he faced a “big decision” over the next phase of the conflict, while predicting that an agreement could ultimately be reached after the U.S. midterm elections on November 3.

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of the central issues in the negotiations. Iranian officials have indicated that Tehran could consider reopening the waterway if the United States eases military pressure, lifts its blockade of Iranian ports and releases frozen Iranian assets, according to reports cited by Reuters.

Trump’s UN address extended beyond Iran. He defended U.S. policy toward Venezuela and Cuba, criticized international institutions including the International Criminal Court, and called for greater U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence, which he referred to as “super intelligence.” On Ukraine, he said Washington was working with both Kyiv and Moscow and expressed confidence that the war could be brought to an end.

The diplomatic contact with Iran came against the backdrop of a broader international effort at the UN to prevent further escalation. Secretary-General António Guterres urged world leaders to use the high-level meetings for de-escalation and dialogue, warning that international law and multilateral cooperation were under severe strain.

For now, the U.S. and Iranian positions remain far apart. But the three-hour meeting in New York represents a significant development: on the same day Trump publicly threatened the possibility of further military escalation, Washington and Tehran were also engaged in direct discussions over a potential path toward a settlement.