US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he faces a major decision over whether to allow Iran to rebuild through a deal or take further military action against Tehran, 24NewsHD TV reported
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump defended his administration’s policy toward Iran and said Tehran had delayed efforts to reach an agreement.
He questioned whether Iran would be allowed to rebuild into a stronger country or whether the US would take further action against it.
Trump said Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and accused its government of supporting terrorism.
He also said Tehran had refused to reach an agreement with Washington and argued that Iran’s current conduct reflected its weakened position.
The US president said he believed a deal with Iran could eventually be reached, while accusing Tehran of waiting to see the outcome of the US midterm elections.
Trump also highlighted what he described as improvements in the US economy, security and military strength.
He said the United States was receiving more investment, its military remained the world’s strongest and its borders were more secure.
The Iran conflict has remained a central issue at this year’s UN General Assembly, with Trump using his address to defend his decision to launch military action against Tehran.
Reuters news agency reported that the speech came amid continued diplomatic efforts over the conflict and meetings between Trump and several world leaders.
In his address, Trump also criticised international institutions and called on countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He said international bodies should not impose their agendas on the United States and argued that the ICC has no jurisdiction over American citizens.
Trump said the US would not allow its military personnel to face what he described as politically motivated proceedings before an “anti-American tribunal” and urged ICC member states to leave the court.
He also referred to the India-Pakistan conflict and claimed credit for helping bring an end to the fighting, among several other foreign-policy issues discussed during his address.
AFP adds:
US President Donald Trump called for all nations that are part of the International Criminal Court to quit the body, calling it "out of control."
"The United States is equally opposed to the out-of-control institution known as the International Criminal Court," he said at the United Nations.
"I call on all nations that are members of the ICC to officially resign from this rogue institution immediately," he added.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has vowed to dismantle the ICC "brick by brick," describing the court as an "intolerable threat to US sovereignty."
The body tries individuals for the world's worst crimes.
Washington has imposed a series of sanctions on ICC officials, furious at the court's issuance of an arrest warrant for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- a close US ally.
On Tuesday, Trump said Washington would "never allow US service members or anyone else to be investigated or given show-trials by an anti-American tribunal with no jurisdiction over us."
The United States is not an ICC member and has never ratified the Rome Statute that established the court. Israel, Russia and China are also not members.