Trump defends war against Iran before UN - claims he made peace

It was a Trump we all recognize who took the stage at the UN headquarters in New York. Who bragged about making America "stronger than ever" and about stopping eight wars. Which in itself is a very dubious claim.

He has also not stopped a war, but started it: the one against Iran. What was supposed to end in a few weeks but is now about to enter its eighth month.

In front of world leaders and his own home audience, Trump gave what looked like a pompous defense speech for this war, which only 26 percent of Americans think he is handling well.

- While others have talked, I have acted. While others have spoken of peace, I have made peace. While others have ignored threats, I have confronted them.

As United Nations television cameras zoomed in on Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the podium, Trump claimed that the Iranian regime is awaiting the results of the November 3 US congressional elections.

- They are waiting to see how I do. But they don't realize I'm not on the ballot.

Therefore, that's how one must interpret Trump, no matter how the election goes. Regardless of whether the Republicans lose their majority in Congress, the president does as he pleases.

In other words, it will either be total annihilation or a settlement, but only after the election. Which is also a way for Trump to try to remove the war and the high oil prices as an election issue at home - a pious hope.

At the same time, he also presented the war as basically already won.

- Iran was the bully of the Middle East. But they are no longer.

He went on to list the heavy losses Iran's military has suffered during the war. He spoke less about the fact that the country still controls the Strait of Hormuz, and thereby a large part of the world's oil supply.

The Trump administration's talking point these days is that it could be so much worse. That a nuclear-armed Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz completely. This was also reiterated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an interview on Tuesday.

These are tones we have heard before. Boasts and deadly threats uttered at the same time as an invitation to advantageous deals. And there is little evidence that the tactic is working just because it is repeated on the UN stage.