US President Donald Trump is in New York for the 2026 United Nations General Assembly, where the focus is on wars, diplomacy, global security and the changing international order.
Trump is scheduled to address world leaders at the UN on September 22. His visit comes at a particularly sensitive time because the United States remains involved in a major conflict with Iran, while the Russia-Ukraine war also continues.
But there is one important question surrounding Trump's UN visit: Will he actually meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian?
Trump has said that he is open to such a meeting. However, no confirmed Trump-Pezeshkian meeting has been announced so far. That uncertainty has become one of the biggest diplomatic questions surrounding this year's UN gathering.
Why Trump’s UN Visit Matters
The United Nations General Assembly is one of the biggest diplomatic gatherings in the world. The 81st session's general debate begins on September 22, with leaders and senior representatives from UN member states attending meetings in New York.
The UN has 193 member states, and the General Assembly provides a platform where countries can present their positions on international issues.
This year's meeting is taking place during a period of major international tension. The Iran conflict, the war in Ukraine, energy security, artificial intelligence and questions about the future role of international institutions are among the major issues being discussed.
The Big Missing Piece: A Trump-Pezeshkian Meeting
The most closely watched possibility around Trump's visit is a potential meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Trump has indicated that he would probably be open to meeting Pezeshkian during the UN General Assembly. However, reports say there was no confirmed arrangement for such a meeting at the time of the latest updates.
That is significant because Washington and Tehran are currently involved in a serious military and diplomatic confrontation.
A direct meeting between the two presidents would therefore attract major international attention. It could provide an opportunity for both sides to communicate directly, although a meeting by itself would not necessarily mean that a peace agreement or ceasefire had been reached.
For now, the meeting remains a possibility rather than a confirmed event.
Iran's President Is Also Coming To The UN
Pezeshkian is expected to address the UN General Assembly on September 23.
Iran has said that its participation will be used to present Tehran's position on the conflict and wider international issues. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also arrived in New York and is expected to hold diplomatic discussions on the sidelines of the UN meetings.
Iran's presence is particularly important this year because the country is directly involved in the conflict with the United States.
The Iranian delegation has also faced a separate controversy. The United States allowed Pezeshkian and some senior officials to enter for the UN meeting but denied visas to several members of the wider Iranian delegation, including members of his communications team, according to Iranian state media reports.
Trump Has A Packed UN Schedule
Trump's visit is not limited to his speech at the General Assembly.
According to Reuters, his schedule includes meetings with leaders from several countries and discussions covering the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, regional security and other foreign-policy issues.
He is also expected to meet leaders from Gulf countries.
These meetings are important because the Iran conflict has affected regional security as well as energy markets and shipping.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the major concerns. Any prolonged disruption in the region can affect the movement of oil and other goods, making the conflict an international economic issue rather than only a regional military dispute.
Iran War Will Be A Major Part Of Trump's Message
Trump's UN appearance comes after months of conflict between the United States and Iran.
The war has created pressure on the global economy and energy markets. It has also increased diplomatic activity among countries trying to prevent the conflict from expanding further.
Trump is expected to defend his administration's approach to Iran while also presenting his wider foreign-policy agenda.
The exact balance between military action, negotiations and diplomacy will therefore be closely watched.
Ukraine Is Another Major Issue
Iran is not the only major conflict on Trump's UN agenda.
The Russia-Ukraine war is also expected to feature prominently during the General Assembly meetings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in New York, and Trump is scheduled to meet him during his visit.
The war has continued despite repeated diplomatic efforts, and energy infrastructure and security remain major concerns.
The UN gathering gives leaders another opportunity to discuss possible diplomatic steps, although no immediate breakthrough should be assumed simply because leaders meet.
Discussions seemed to go smoothly, as indicated by the two during a news conference held after the meeting.https://t.co/FnuQutZRgs
— KATU News (@KATUNews) September 22, 2026
Why The UN Meeting Is Different This Year
This year's UN gathering comes at a time when international institutions are facing questions about their effectiveness.
The UN itself has described the General Assembly as a central forum where its 193 member states discuss issues including war and peace, development, climate change and human rights.
At the same time, diplomats arriving in New York have described a world marked by increasing uncertainty, conflicts and disagreements between major powers.
That makes Trump's appearance especially important.
His administration has frequently questioned aspects of the international system, while the UN remains a major platform for international diplomacy.
What Is Actually “Missing”?
The phrase “something is missing” in Trump's UN visit mainly points to the absence of a confirmed direct meeting with Pezeshkian.
The two presidents are attending the same major diplomatic gathering. Trump has said he is open to meeting the Iranian leader, while Pezeshkian is travelling to New York to present Iran's position.
Yet, at the time of the latest reports, there was still no announced Trump-Pezeshkian meeting.
That gap is important because a direct conversation could potentially become a channel for discussing the war, negotiations and regional security.
However, it is also important not to treat a possible meeting as a guaranteed diplomatic breakthrough. Any meaningful change would depend on what both governments are willing to discuss and whether they can agree on concrete steps.
The Bigger Picture
Trump's UN visit is happening against the backdrop of several major international crises.
The United States is dealing with the Iran conflict, Ukraine remains at war, Gulf security is under pressure and global leaders are debating the future role of international institutions.
The UN General Assembly gives these countries a common diplomatic platform.
For Trump, the visit provides an opportunity to present his administration's foreign-policy position directly to an international audience.
For Iran, Pezeshkian's appearance provides an opportunity to put Tehran's position before the same global audience.
And for other countries, the focus will be on whether the meetings in New York can produce communication, negotiations or concrete diplomatic steps.
What Happens Next?
Trump's UN speech and his meetings with foreign leaders will provide the next important developments.
The biggest question remains whether Trump and Pezeshkian actually sit down together.
For now, the possibility is open, but a confirmed meeting has not been announced. As the UN General Assembly continues, attention will remain on whether the two sides move closer to direct diplomacy or continue their confrontation.
