Iran vows 'painful' retaliation as Trump piles on pressure ahead of UN General Assembly meeting

US President Donald J. Trump makes an announcement on healthcare in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, September 18, 2026. Evan Vucci | ReutersPresident Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iran's economy or eliminate its leadership if Tehran doesn't strike a deal, raising the stakes as Iranian officials head to New York for this week's gathering of world leaders at the UN.Trump told Fox News on Sunday that the only options on the table were "wiping Iran out," or letting its economy "rot," unless both sides reach a deal. Separately, Iran's military said that its intelligence suggested a new, large-scale strike being prepared by the U.S. and its allies, warning of "painful" retaliation across the Middle East. Regional countries backing such a strike would be treated as parties to the conflict, it said. "If the U.S. makes any mistake against the Islamic Republic of Iran, all its positions and interests in the region will be targeted by sustained, effective and painful attacks," the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters of Iran said, according to semi-official media Tasnim. The exchange marks the latest escalation in the seven-month war after a June memorandum co...