Updated
US President Donald Trump has used his speech to the
United Nations General Assembly to defend his "America First" policies
of putting US interests ahead of any move towards globalism, a message
that was greeted by silence, blank stares, headshakes and even laughter
at times from wary world leaders.
Key points:
- Trump defends economic record using political rally rhetoric
- UN delegates greet remarks with a combination of silence, headshakes and laughs
- Iran threatened with more sanctions
- China attacked on trade policy but no mentions made of Russia or Syria
Mr Trump said he honoured the right of every nation to pursue its own customs, beliefs and traditions and said the United States would never tell other nations how to live, work or worship.
He added the United States expected other nations to "honour America's sovereignty in return".
Mr Trump, who begins his political rallies with boasts about his economic record in less than two years in office, used the same rhetoric before the crowd of world leaders and diplomats, telling them he had accomplished more than almost any previous US president.
The remark led to some murmuring and laughter in the crowd, taking the president slightly aback.
"I didn't expect that reaction, but that's okay," he said.
But his 35-minute speech in the green-marbled UN hall, while relatively low-key, was also aimed squarely at Iran, which the United States accuses of harbouring nuclear ambitions and fomenting instability in the Middle East through its support for militant groups in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.
He attacked Iran as a "corrupt dictatorship" that is plundering its people to pay for aggression abroad, and threatened more sanctions against Tehran.
"Iran's leaders sow chaos, death and destruction," Mr Trump told the annual gathering. "They do not respect their neighbours or borders or the sovereign rights of nations."
Mr Trump, who said on Tuesday morning that he had given up hope for a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani while both were in New York, said he would keep up economic pressure on Tehran to try to force a change in its behaviour.
In May, he withdrew the United States from the 2015 international deal to put curbs on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions.
Foes for decades, Washington and Tehran have been increasingly at odds since May. The accord with OPEC member Iran was negotiated under Democratic US president Barack Obama.
"Additional sanctions will resume November 5th and more will follow, and we are working with countries that import Iranian crude oil to cut their purchases substantially," Mr Trump said.
He said the United States would help create a regional strategic alliance between Gulf nations and Jordan and Egypt, an initiative that the United States sees as a bulwark against Iran.
Mr Trump compared US relations with Iran to what he called improved ties with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who Mr Trump had met in Singapore in June as part of a still-unfulfilled drive to get Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons.
Besides calling out Iran, Mr Trump also criticised China for its trade practices but made no mention of Russia's interference in Syria or meddling in US election
In his address last year to the UN, Trump insulted Mr Kim as a "rocket man" bent on nuclear destruction. On Tuesday, Mr Trump praised Mr Kim for halting nuclear and missile tests, releasing Americans held prisoner and returning some remains of US soldiers killed in the 1950s Korean War.
The two leaders are trying to arrange a second summit and are exchanging private correspondence. Trump has said sanctions on North Korea would remain for now.
Wires/ABC
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