US President Donald Trump said at a campaign rally in New York on the evening of October 9 that Iran must either “give us everything” or “not exist any longer”. Iranian officials continue to insist there will be no deal until the US lifts its blockade and delivers sanctions relief. The remark comes amid a seven-month-old war between the US and Iran that has caused profound shocks to the Iranian economy and fuelled widespread domestic disapproval over high gas prices and inflation.
“Iran will be very quick, one way or the other. Either they give us everything, or they don’t exist any longer. They know that,” Trump said.
Trump’s shifting statements on military action
Trump has been vacillating between threatening to resume heavier military strikes and declaring that the US will not attack Iran before the November 3 congressional midterm elections. On Friday, he said he was not ruling out renewed military action against Iran before the midterms. On Thursday, he had said the United States would not strike Tehran before Americans go to the polls.
Iran says Trump is unreliable
Iran’s leader has claimed that Trump is unreliable in negotiations and that the US midterm elections will not fundamentally change Iran’s approach. Karimi added that “the US, especially in the Trump era, will not be compliant to any deal even if he himself signs it.”
Rally in Syracuse as part of national blitz
Trump spoke at a rally in Syracuse, New York, on Friday for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman. The event was part of a national 32-day campaign blitz meant to boost Republican candidates ahead of the November 3, 2026 midterm elections. Besides Blakeman, Trump also campaigned for local congressional candidates, including Kailee Buller, who is running in New York’s 22nd congressional district. During his speech, he urged the crowd to “just pretend I’m on the ballot”.
Public opinion on the war
According to a poll published last week by the Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research, 69% of Americans say the war has not been worth fighting. That is up slightly from 64% in July.
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