Trump Urges Iran's Isolation in UN Address
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – US President Donald Trump called for Iran's isolation in the world in an unabashedly boastful speech to the United Nations General Assembly which provoked laughter from fellow leaders.
Hours before Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was due to speak from the same rostrum, Trump denounced Tehran for sowing "chaos, death and destruction" as he defended his decision to ditch the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers four months ago.
"We ask all nations to isolate Iran's regime as long as its aggression continues," he continued. "They do not respect their neighbors or borders or the sovereign rights of nations."
The US president said more sanctions would follow after the resumption of oil sanctions on Iran on November 5.
UN audience laughs at Trump
Boasting that his team "has achieved more than any administration in the history of our country," Trump was met with laughter, highly unusual in the solemn General Assembly.
The audience then again began chuckling when Trump said "so true." Trump paused, and then responded, "I didn't expect that reaction but that's OK."
Trump slams OPEC, calls for lower prices
Meanwhile, Trump charged members of the OPEC oil cartel with "ripping off" the world and called for a lowering of fuel prices.
"The United States stands ready to export our abundant affordable supply of oil, clean coal, and natural gas," Trump told the General Assembly.
"OPEC and OPEC nations are, as usual, ripping off the rest of the world, and I don't like it. Nobody should like it," he said.
ICC has 'no legitimacy'
Trump also said the International Criminal Court lacks any legitimacy, saying it violated "all principles of justice."
"As far as America is concerned, the ICC has no jurisdiction, no legitimacy, and no authority," Trump said of the global court.
"The ICC claims near-universal jurisdiction over the citizens of every country, violating all principles of justice, fairness, and due process. We will never surrender America's sovereignty to an unelected, unaccountable global bureaucracy."
