(URGENT) Lee to seek contact with Trump through various forms at U.N. meeting: security adviser

U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed to a Fox News reporter on Sunday his willingness to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the United Nations General Assembly meeting taking place in New York this week. However, Trump also reiterated his threats against Iran, prompting Tehran to warn of sustained retaliation. During a phone interview with Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, Trump expressed his openness to meeting Pezeshkian, provided Iran accepts a proposed U.S. deal.

Failure to do so, according to Trump, would result in economic decline or complete eradication of Iran. Iran, in a separate statement on Sunday, cautioned that any new U.S. attack would provoke a series of retaliatory actions against U.S. bases and allies in the Middle East. Iran's military also claimed to possess intelligence suggesting an impending U.S. attack, although no further details were provided.

The history of military confrontations between the two nations is marked by Trump's recurrent threats of escalation, and recent months have witnessed intermittent strikes against Iran amid an ongoing dispute at the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has responded to U.S. aggression by launching drone and missile strikes at U.S. facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.

Despite such actions, the conflict has shown little indication of abating, as U.S.-Iranian negotiations continue to be stalled and Yemeni Houthi rebels have escalated their attacks against Saudi Arabia. The New York Times indicated on Sunday that Trump had initially declined to participate in Saudi retaliation against the Houthis last week, but by Sunday afternoon, had opted against launching any strikes.

The Houthis had gained significant territory in Yemen's Red Sea region in September, and their attacks on Saudi Arabia intensified this month, culminating in additional assaults on Riyadh. Saudi leaders have called for U.S. intervention amid the turmoil.