Trump's UN message on Iran was blunt. His AI pitch raised eyebrows

US President Donald Trump had no problems with stalling escalators or teleprompters at this year’s United Nations General Assembly. He stuck to the script, but the message he conveyed was blunt and deeply unsettling.

As Donald Trump looked down at representatives from about 130 countries, including Australia, he defended the strikes on Iran that have clogged the Strait of Hormuz and driven up oil prices and inflation across the globe.

Domestic disapproval of the war with Iran, which began in February, has punctured the popularity of many Republican incumbents, including close Trump allies, as they prepare for mid-term elections in November.

"I hope the Europeans realise that Iran’s goal was to complete their mad dash to a nuclear bomb," Trump said.

As the majority of the Iranian delegation walked out of his speech, Trump went on to unfold the decision before him about the conflict.

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The question he posed: "Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country?"

"Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, 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?"

Trump's final assessment was to predict a deal with Iran that would be done after the American mid-term elections.

It was a concession that, despite allowing the Islamic Republic to send representatives to New York, he doesn’t expect to achieve a final negotiation this week.

A meeting between Iranian and US officials came after the speech, according to the White House.

Trump also addressed the strengthening international push to regulate artificial intelligence.

After cancelling press passes for CNN, MS NOW and Politico over accusations of “fake news” and criticism of his government, he’s now using the same tagline for the rapidly developing technology industry.

"The use of the word artificial makes intelligence fake, and makes it sound fake, and it is not fake. It's actually amazing."