Trump UN Speech: President Says He Expects Iran Deal After U.S. Election
During the Trump UN speech on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes Washington will reach an agreement with Iran after the November 3 midterm elections, as both countries signaled a possible return to diplomacy in New York.
Trump’s remarks came during the 81st United Nations General Assembly as American and Iranian officials separately indicated that negotiations could resume despite deep disagreements and the continuing conflict between the two countries.
Trump UN speech puts possible Iran deal in focus
Trump told the General Assembly that he believes the United States will reach a deal with Iran after the November 3 election.
He said he believed Tehran was waiting to see the outcome of the U.S. midterm vote before deciding how to proceed.
The remarks represented the latest direct indication from Trump that he remains open to a negotiated outcome despite ongoing military and political tensions with Iran.
Iran signals willingness to return to negotiations
Separately, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the United Nations gathering represented a “golden opportunity” to revive diplomacy with Washington.
The official said Iran’s delegation in New York had full authority to restart negotiations, although there were no plans at that point for a direct meeting between Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The official also said Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf shipping within seven days if the United States eased military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports.
Profile News has been following the recent escalation around the strategic waterway, including Iran’s announcement that it had downed a U.S. MQ-1 drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington says talks remain possible
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was open to speaking with Iran, particularly if there was a realistic prospect of achieving a positive result.
The Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran had sent its latest proposal to Washington through mediators during the previous week.
Despite the diplomatic signals, significant differences remain over Iran’s nuclear program, U.S. sanctions, military pressure and the broader regional security architecture.
Will Trump meet Pezeshkian?
No direct meeting between Trump and Pezeshkian had been officially announced as of Tuesday’s updates.
The senior Iranian official said a presidential meeting was not planned, although Trump had previously indicated he would be open to meeting the Iranian president.
Pezeshkian is attending the General Assembly in New York, where regional leaders and officials are holding a series of meetings focused on the conflict, maritime security and diplomacy.
Gulf states enter the discussions
Trump is also scheduled to meet leaders and representatives of the six Gulf Cooperation Council states: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.
The Gulf states have a direct interest in restoring secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and addressing the widening conflict around Yemen and the Red Sea.
China and AI remain on Trump’s agenda
Trump’s diplomatic agenda also includes an expected meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping as the two countries navigate disputes over trade, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and geopolitical security.
Profile News previously examined the difficult issues shaping U.S.-China talks ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting.
Ukraine talks also underway in New York
Trump is due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
Kyiv is expected to seek discussions on a potential halt to attacks on energy infrastructure as winter approaches, while Russia and Ukraine continue exchanging missile and drone strikes.
No energy ceasefire agreement had been announced as of Tuesday.
What happens next?
Attention will now turn to whether the diplomatic signals from Washington and Tehran lead to direct negotiations during or after the U.N. meetings.
Any move involving the Strait of Hormuz would also have significant implications for global shipping and energy markets.
For now, there is no announced U.S.-Iran agreement. Trump’s statement that he expects a deal after the November election remains a prediction by the U.S. president rather than confirmation that an agreement has already been reached.
Sources
- Reuters — Trump says he thinks U.S. will make deal with Iran after election
- Reuters — Trump addresses the United Nations amid Iran and Ukraine diplomacy
- Reuters — Iran and U.S. hint at revival of talks as leaders gather at UN
- Associated Press — Latest developments from the 2026 UN General Assembly
