Trump says U.S., Iranian officials met, shortly after warning he may 'annihilate' Iran

President Donald Trump said U.S. and Iranian officials met Tuesday (September 22, 2026), an unexpected engagement that came even as he threatened in his address to the UN General Assembly that he may “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if a deal isn't reached soon to end the nearly seven-month war.

Mr. Trump told reporters that his chief envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met with the Iranian officials on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders, but he offered few details about how the discussions transpired or the substance of the exchange.

“It was a very good meeting,” Mr. Trump said. The President later added that the Iranian officials were “not at the highest level, but it's something.”

The engagement comes after months of U.S.-Iran communications languishing following the collapse of a short-lived ceasefire that was brokered in June.