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Donald Trump`s UN speech: How world leaders are reacting
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time. During the course of his 42-minute speech, Trump took on North Korea, targeted Iran, talked tough to Venezuela, tore into Hezbollah and took down ISIS propoganda. Some have called it the ` twitterstorm of speeches`. Others have called it worse.
NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time. During the course of his 42-minute speech, Trump took on North Korea, targeted Iran, talked tough to Venezuela, tore into Hezbollah and took down ISIS propoganda. Some have called it the ' twitterstorm of speeches'. Others have called it worse.
Here are gists from Trump's speech and how world leaders reacted to them.
What Trump said about Iran: The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy. It has turned a wealthy country, with a rich history and culture, into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos. The longest-suffering victims of Iran's leaders are, in fact, its own people.
How Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reacted: Trump's ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times-not the 21st Century UN - unworthy of a reply. Fake empathy for Iranians fools no one.
What Trump said about Venezuela: We have also imposed tough calibrated sanctions on the socialist Maduro regime in Venezuela, which has brought a once thriving nation to the brink of total collapse. The socialist dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro has inflicted terrible pain and suffering on the good people of that country.
How Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza reacted: No leader can come and question our democracy, can come and question our sovereignty. We do not accept threats from President Trump or whoever in this world.
What Trump said about North Korea: No one has shown more contempt for other nations and for the well-being of their own people than the depraved regime in North Korea. The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.
How North Korea reacted: Ambassador Ja Song Nam left the room before Trump began his speech. An official reaction from the country and the regime is awaited.
The overall essence - and predicted implications - of the speech were abhorred by some and praised by others.
Margot Wallstrom, Foreign Minister of Sweden: This was a bombastic, nationalist speech. It must have been decades since one last heard a speech like that in the UN General Assembly. ... This was a speech at the wrong time to the wrong audience.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: In over 30 years in my experience with the UN, I never heard a bolder or more courageous speech.
A statement from office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in: We view the speech as portraying a firm and specific stance on the key issues regarding keeping peace and safety that the international community and the United Nations are faced with.
(With inputs from agencies)