US President Donald Trump addressed the UN General Assembly for the first time Tuesday, saying Iran’s government is a corrupt dictatorship disguised as a democracy.
He added that Tehran uses its resources and oil profits to fund Hezbollah and other terrorist groups that kill innocent Muslims and attack peaceful Arab states.
“This wealth, which rightly belongs to Iranian people, also goes to shore up (Syrian President) Bashar Assad’s dictatorship, fuel Yemen’s civil war and undermine peace throughout the entire Middle East,” Trump said.
He added that the world cannot let Tehran continue these destabilizing activities while building ballistic missiles, and cannot abide by the nuclear deal if it provides cover for an eventual nuclear program.
He added that Iran must stop supporting terrorists, start serving its own people and respect the sovereign rights of its neighbors.
He said Tehran’s support for terrorism is in stark contrast to recent commitments by many of its neighbors to combat terrorism and its financing.
“In Saudi Arabia… I was greatly honored to address the leaders of more than 50 Arab and Muslim nations,” said Trump.
He said the US is working with its allies throughout the Middle East to crush terrorists and stop the re-emergence of safe havens that they use to launch attacks against innocents.
Speaking about recent setbacks to Daesh, Trump said in Syria and Iraq, there has been major progress toward the terrorist group’s lasting defeat.
“The actions of the criminal regime of Bashar Assad, including the use of chemical weapons against his own citizens, even innocent children, shocked the conscience of every decent person.” He added that no society could be safe if banned chemical weapons are allowed to proliferate.