Trump threatens Iran but later says both sides had good meeting

US President Donald Trump said American and Iranian officials had a

"very good meeting" in New York, shortly after he threatened in

his address to the UN General Assembly that he may "annihilate"

the Islamic Republic if a deal is not reached soon to end the

war in the Middle East.

Trump said, "But I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran?

That lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before?

Maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East, or even the world?

Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic (of Iran) and do it quickly,

never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?

Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope

of future greatness or generations? But I believe we'll make a deal

right after the election. Because, it doesn't make sense for them not to.

They're waiting to see how I do in the midterm election.

What they don't realise is that I'm not running."

But later in the day, Trump confirmed Washington and Tehran officials

met and had a "very good meeting". He said it is preferable for the US

to make a deal with Iran.

Iran responded to Trump's UN speech by saying that the

US president's threats were intended for "domestic propaganda"

rather than reflecting realities on the ground.

A statement from Iran's joint military command said the country

is "in full preparedness to inflict even more severe, crushing

and unpredictable blows" to the US and Israel.