DOMINANT ANGLE
Pretoria is deciphering the huge gap between the threat to "annihilate" Iran made from the UN podium and the resumption of dialogue announced afterwards, as well as the departure of the Iranian delegation during the speech.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
At the UN podium on Tuesday, Trump stated he wants to "annihilate the Islamic Republic" if there is no agreement with Iran, while calling for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
- 02
Iranian armed forces have labeled these comments as "propaganda" and promised "crushing and unpredictable blows against aggressors".
- 03
US envoy Steve Witkoff announced on X "long" talks with Iran on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Assembly, conducted through mediators who shuttled back and forth all day.
ANALYSIS
Pretoria, September 23, 2026. The South African press notes a stark contrast between the scene and the behind-the-scenes in New York. On Tuesday, at the United Nations General Assembly podium, Donald Trump defended his decision to have gone to war against Iran in February, claiming it had prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. "I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran... Or will I annihilate the Islamic Republic quickly, without ever giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?" he said, as reported by the Daily Maverick. The American president called on Tehran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz and return to the negotiating table, while accusing it of stalling until the November 3 midterm elections. Most of the Iranian delegation left the room during his speech, while dozens of anti-Iranian government protesters gathered in front of the UN headquarters with signs demanding freedom and democracy.
The Iranian armed forces immediately described these remarks as "propaganda", promising in return "more severe, crushing, and unpredictable blows against the aggressors".
But TimesLIVE and Business Day note that, far from the inflammatory rhetoric, discussions have continued: American envoy Steve Witkoff announced on X that Washington and Tehran had held lengthy talks on the sidelines of the Assembly on Tuesday, through mediators who "shuttled between the two sides all day", saying he was confident that the meeting would be "constructive and promising". Trump also met with Middle Eastern leaders who want to restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz - a passage of a fifth of the world's oil and gas flows before the war - but are wary of giving too much weight to their Iranian rival; several host American bases that have been repeatedly targeted by Iranian strikes during the conflict. "We think the situation with Iran could be resolved just after the midterm elections, maybe before. You never know," he said in front of them.
Pretoria finally notes that this conflict, born of the joint American-Israeli strikes in February, has caused thousands of deaths, driven up oil prices, and involved neighboring countries - a reminder that a negotiated outcome, if confirmed, far exceeds Washington and Tehran.
SOURCES (3)
- Business DayMEDIUM
