Trump Warns Iran of Strikes After Rubio Orders Delegation Out

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered an Iranian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, to leave the United States immediately on Monday. The directive followed a stalemate in indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar regarding the end of a seven-month conflict, the revival of nuclear program talks, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

While U.S. officials stated the delegation had "overstayed their welcome," the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations rejected the expulsion claim. Iranian officials asserted the departure was pre-scheduled and communicated to the U.S. State Department on September 17, characterizing reports of an expulsion as "baseless and worthless." The delegation departed New York for Doha at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday.

Donald Trump responded to the diplomatic breakdown by warning that the U.S. would either reach a deal or "blow 'em up," asserting the U.S. would win the war "one way or the other." Trump rejected Iran's latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as "not good enough" and suggested the U.S. might increase military strikes in the Middle East following the November midterm elections, noting the military has spent six months rebuilding its arsenal.

Despite the impasse, Middle East oil exports are nearing pre-war levels, though Brent crude remains above $103 a barrel due to geopolitical uncertainty. The two nations remain divided over sequencing, with Tehran seeking sanctions relief and asset recovery before Washington's demands for nuclear concessions are met.