By Rajwa Quasim
President Donald Trump is set to address world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday against the backdrop of the ongoing war with Iran and continuing geopolitical tensions in Gaza and Ukraine.
Trump’s appearance at the U.N. comes as the war between the U.S. and Israel and Iran enters its eighth month. The conflict has affected oil markets and regional security. Trump had initially said the war would last a few weeks, but it has now continued for months.
At the United Nations, Trump is expected to defend his administration’s foreign policy and what officials described as “his efforts to address international conflicts that previous administrations failed to resolve.” U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz told reporters that Trump would discuss the need to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and outline his administration’s achievements over the past year.
Trump is also expected to focus on the peace agreements his administration has pursued, U.S. actions in regions including North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, and progress on the 20-point Gaza peace plan.
READ: US-Iran war toll rises as ceasefire excludes Lebanon (April 8, 2026)
Iran is expected to be one of the most closely watched issues during the gathering. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will also be present at the meeting. The U.S. State Department said the Iranian delegation would be allowed to attend in line with the United States’ responsibilities as the host country.
It added, “The delegation will be under travel restrictions and will face prohibitions on the purchase of luxury and other goods per our policy. The delegation is smaller than last year.”
Trump’s U.N. schedule will extend beyond his address. He is expected to meet with several foreign leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, and leaders from Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
The discussions are expected to include regional security and the consequences of the Iran conflict. The disruption of energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz has affected global oil markets and contributed to higher energy prices.
The Russia-Ukraine war will also feature prominently at the UNGA. Trump recently signed legislation targeting Russia’s energy and defense sectors, along with its “shadow fleet” of tankers accused of helping Moscow bypass existing sanctions. The bill would also allow Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that rely on Russian oil and gas, including India and China.
READ: ‘Triple sabotage’: President Trump fuming over embarrassment at the UN (September 25, 2025)
The U.N. Human Rights Council’s report last week stated that human rights experts found “reasonable grounds” to believe that the U.S. committed war crimes in two strikes in Iran, including an attack on a school in the southern city of Minab. The U.N. fact-finding mission said its findings focused on two U.S. airstrikes that killed at least 178 civilians, including women and children.
Other issues, including the war in Gaza, artificial intelligence, climate change and the future of the international organization itself, could also feature in discussions during the gathering.
At the same time, Trump has repeatedly criticized the U.N., while his administration has moved toward greater “protectionism” in some areas. During his address to the U.N. General Assembly last year, Trump criticized climate change policies, European countries’ handling of immigration and the United Nations’ response to global conflicts.
His administration has also reduced funding to several U.N. agencies. A U.S. official said in August that any payments to the international organization would depend on continued reforms within the U.N. The United States has paid $725 million to the U.N. and owes $1.312 billion to its regular budget, according to the organization.