Trump defends Iran war at UN as Carney backs multilateralism

U.S. President Donald Trump defended his war against Iran before the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, telling delegates that "while others have talked, I have acted" and that "while others have promised strength, I have used it to make America the most powerful country in the world." The address came as this year's Assembly theme, "Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all," unfolds against oil supply shocks and rising prices driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and amid Trump's repeated criticism of multilateral institutions. Trump has demanded sweeping reforms at the UN and held back funding for the body, and his administration has withdrawn from multiple UN organizations, including the World Health Organization and UNESCO. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has emerged in recent weeks as a prominent defender of multilateralism, arrived Tuesday morning for the opening of the General Assembly, where he was greeted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and later spoke with Kuwait's Crown Prince Sabah AlKhalid AlSabah before formal speeches began. Carney is not addressing the Assembly.