United Nations: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Iran had been “allowed to gather strength at the world’s peril” and defended Washington’s action against Tehran, claiming the United States had moved to prevent the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon and spreading terror.

Addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Trump said the US had halted Iran’s “mad dash to a nuclear bomb from behind this ballistic missile shield”.

“If they had succeeded, that wicked regime would have been free to spread terror and death forever”, Trump added.

Trump also spoke about US naval operations in the Strait of Hormuz, saying American forces had escorted more than 1 billion barrels of oil through the strategic waterway.

"The United States Navy has recently escorted more than 1 billion barrels of oil out of the Strait of Hormuz, and more oil is flowing than at any point since the start of the war. We're taking 22, 25, 30, 32 and 37 ships out, respectively, every single day, every single night.

“But I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world. Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?

“But I believe we'll make a deal right after the election, because it doesn't make sense for them not to. They're waiting to see how I do in the midterm election. What they don't realize is that I'm not running...I gave absolutely no credence and will not give credence to the election when it comes to Iran. It doesn't even enter my mind. The only thing that does is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."

He also warned that the United States would no longer allow threats to gain a foothold in the Western Hemisphere, according to extracts of his speech released by the White House ahead of his address.

Trump says US has increased military spending

Trump further said the United States had invested more money in its military over the previous 12 months than ever before, adding that military spending during his current term would reach $1.5 trillion.

He said, “The entire world is being lifted by the wealth, strength, spirit, and momentum of a newly energised and very powerful United States of America.”

Trump also reiterated his claim that the United States was now stronger.

“America is back, and our country is stronger today than ever before,” Trump said.

His speech was also expected to target Cuba, with Trump accusing Havana of having “cultivated ties” with left-wing groups in the United States.

The US president was scheduled to meet interim Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodriguez on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly later Tuesday.

Trump's remarks on Iran come against the backdrop of the broader US confrontation with Tehran. In the speech extracts released by the White House, he was expected to argue that Washington had to act to stop what he called the “vile regime” in Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, citing the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by the Iran-allied Hamas group.