Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump asked whether he should "annihilate the Islamic Republic" or offer it a deal to rebuild before telling reporters that US and Iranian officials had met on the sidelines. Most of Iran's delegation walked out during his speech.
Tehran's decision-making structures appear gripped by a war of words as conflicting reports emerge on Tuesday about an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the US eases its military pressure.