US President Donald Trump says Iran refused to agree to cease its nuclear programme, despite negotiations dating back to him taking office last January.

“They were the bully of the Middle East, but they are the bully no more,” Trump says in his address to the UN General Assembly, recalling that he has been “unwavering” on never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.

“Upon taking office last year, I immediately opened negotiations with Iran and offered them full economic cooperation, in exchange for ending their nuclear programme and support for terror, but they refused … it was a big mistake,” he adds.

Trump notes that Iran again refused to come to an agreement following US-Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities in the country in the summer of 2025, and that Tehran built a “vast” missile and drone stockpile, as well as pursuing the creation of nuclear weapons behind a “conventional ballistic missile shield”.