Washington, September 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US President Donald Trump is set to make Iran’s nuclear programme a central focus of his diplomatic engagements at the United Nations next week, with talks planned with Gulf leaders and US officials signalling continued pressure on entities doing business with Tehran.
Trump will address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday before meeting leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in New York. US officials said Iran would feature prominently in the discussions, although they did not confirm whether Trump or other American representatives would hold talks with Iranian officials.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said Trump’s address would underline Washington’s position that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon. He said the issue was also reflected in repeated UN Security Council resolutions.
According to Waltz, the speech will also touch on diplomatic agreements, unresolved conflicts and progress on Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.
A senior US official said Washington had issued visas to an Iranian delegation attending the UN gathering, although it would be smaller than last year’s delegation. The official declined to comment on whether a US-Iran meeting would take place, saying Trump’s and Secretary of State’s schedules had not been finalised.
The planned meeting with Gulf leaders is expected to focus on regional security and concerns raised by countries in the region. A US official said alternative routes for oil shipments were reducing Iran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, citing figures attributed to the US Energy Secretary that put oil flows at 10 million to 11 million barrels per day. The briefing did not specify the routes covered by those figures.
The official also claimed that economic pressure had pushed Iran’s currency to a record low and inflation to a record high, but no supporting data were provided during the briefing.
“ In one way or another, we expect the Iranian regime to abandon its pursuit of a nuclear weapon,” the official said.
Washington also signalled that economic pressure would continue alongside diplomacy. US officials said the administration would keep warning partners, allies and other governments about consequences for doing business with Tehran.
A senior official noted that the US had imposed sanctions this year on entities in China and Hong Kong accused of facilitating revenue and oil-related transactions supporting Iran’s war efforts.
The issue comes ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington, scheduled after Trump’s return from New York. Officials did not announce any agreement with Beijing on Iran-related sanctions.
US officials also said attacks on civilian shipping and infrastructure, freedom of navigation and the threat posed by mines in waterways would remain part of diplomatic discussions at the UN.
Beyond Iran, the US delegation’s agenda will include artificial intelligence governance, seabed minerals, undersea cables and other international issues.
Trump’s Tuesday schedule also includes meetings with the British and Japanese prime ministers, a reception for world leaders and an encounter with Venezuela’s acting president. He is scheduled to return to the White House that evening.
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