NEW YORK: US President Donald Trump yesterday criticised Iran as a “corrupt dictatorship” that is plundering the Iranian people to pay for aggression abroad, using his speech to the UN General Assembly to lay down a tough message for Tehran.
“Iran’s leaders sow chaos, death and destruction,” Trump told the annual gathering. “They do not respect their neighbours or borders or the sovereign rights of nations.”
Trump compared US relations with Iran to what he called improved ties with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, praising him for halting nuclear and missile tests and returning some US remains from the 1950s Korean War.
Trump used his speech to call for international trade reforms and insist that his main objective as president is to protect American sovereignty. He called on Opec to stop raising oil prices and criticised China’s trade practices.
In remarks to reporters on his way to his speech before the assembly, Trump said he would not meet the Iranians until they “change their tune.”
“Iran has acted very badly,” said Trump. “We look forward to having a great relationship with Iran, but it won’t happen now.”
Trump’s administration is pushing allies to cut imports of Iranian oil to zero as Washington prepares to restore sanctions on Iran’s oil sales in November.