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| At U.N. General Assembly, Signing a Nuclear Pact and Debating Another | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nuclear weapons were the focus as global leaders addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, a day after President Trump vowed to “totally destroy” North Korea if it threatened the United States or its allies. | Nuclear weapons were the focus as global leaders addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, a day after President Trump vowed to “totally destroy” North Korea if it threatened the United States or its allies. |
| Leaders from around the globe began adding their signatures to a treaty that bans nuclear weapons, although the world’s nine nuclear-armed countries declined to sign it and denounced it as dangerously naïve. | Leaders from around the globe began adding their signatures to a treaty that bans nuclear weapons, although the world’s nine nuclear-armed countries declined to sign it and denounced it as dangerously naïve. |
| President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, responding to Mr. Trump’s denunciation of the Iran nuclear deal as “an embarrassment,” defended the agreement in his own remarks to the General Assembly on Wednesday. Mr. Rouhani said the agreement could be “a new model for global interactions.” | President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, responding to Mr. Trump’s denunciation of the Iran nuclear deal as “an embarrassment,” defended the agreement in his own remarks to the General Assembly on Wednesday. Mr. Rouhani said the agreement could be “a new model for global interactions.” |
| • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for United Nations news and a regular look at what you need to know to begin your day. | • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for United Nations news and a regular look at what you need to know to begin your day. |
| Leaders and diplomats from dozens of countries signed a treaty at the United Nations on Wednesday that will outlaw nuclear weapons — a document that disarmament advocates described as a historic first. | Leaders and diplomats from dozens of countries signed a treaty at the United Nations on Wednesday that will outlaw nuclear weapons — a document that disarmament advocates described as a historic first. |
| The world’s nine nuclear-armed countries, including the United States and North Korea, declined to sign the treaty, and the Americans and their allies denounced it as dangerously naïve. | The world’s nine nuclear-armed countries, including the United States and North Korea, declined to sign the treaty, and the Americans and their allies denounced it as dangerously naïve. |
| The treaty, finalized in July by negotiators representing 120 of the 193 United Nations members, offered a stark contrast to the threats of mutual nuclear annihilation raised in the bombastic exchanges between North Korea’s regime and the Trump administration in recent weeks. | The treaty, finalized in July by negotiators representing 120 of the 193 United Nations members, offered a stark contrast to the threats of mutual nuclear annihilation raised in the bombastic exchanges between North Korea’s regime and the Trump administration in recent weeks. |
| The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, as it is officially known, will enter into legal force 90 days after being ratified by 50 countries. | The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, as it is officially known, will enter into legal force 90 days after being ratified by 50 countries. |
| “The treaty is an important step toward the universally held goal of a world free of nuclear weapons,” Secretary General António Guterres, who supported the negotiations, said at the ceremony held in the Trusteeship Council chamber. | “The treaty is an important step toward the universally held goal of a world free of nuclear weapons,” Secretary General António Guterres, who supported the negotiations, said at the ceremony held in the Trusteeship Council chamber. |
| President Michel Temer of Brazil was the first to formally sign the treaty, as other leaders and diplomats in the chamber applauded. | President Michel Temer of Brazil was the first to formally sign the treaty, as other leaders and diplomats in the chamber applauded. |
| The United States and the other nuclear-armed states urged other countries not to sign it. The Americans in particular ridiculed it, arguing that North Korea and any other rogue entity with nuclear weapons would ignore its provisions. | The United States and the other nuclear-armed states urged other countries not to sign it. The Americans in particular ridiculed it, arguing that North Korea and any other rogue entity with nuclear weapons would ignore its provisions. |
| In a statement issued before the signing ceremony, NATO denounced the treaty, saying it “disregards the realities of the increasingly challenging security environment.” | In a statement issued before the signing ceremony, NATO denounced the treaty, saying it “disregards the realities of the increasingly challenging security environment.” |
| Supporters of the treaty said they had no expectation that nuclear-armed states would accept it at first. But they said they hoped that it would eventually increase the stigma of possessing such weapons because of their destructive power. | Supporters of the treaty said they had no expectation that nuclear-armed states would accept it at first. But they said they hoped that it would eventually increase the stigma of possessing such weapons because of their destructive power. |
| “This treaty is a clear indication that the majority of the world no longer accepts nuclear weapons and do not consider them legitimate weapons, creating the foundation of a new norm,” the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons said in a statement. | “This treaty is a clear indication that the majority of the world no longer accepts nuclear weapons and do not consider them legitimate weapons, creating the foundation of a new norm,” the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons said in a statement. |
| The treaty would outlaw the use, threat of use, testing, development, production, possession, transfer and stationing in a different country of nuclear weapons. | The treaty would outlaw the use, threat of use, testing, development, production, possession, transfer and stationing in a different country of nuclear weapons. |
| — RICK GLADSTONE | — RICK GLADSTONE |
| President Trump said on Wednesday that he had made a decision on the nuclear agreement that his predecessor negotiated with Iran, but declined to tell reporters what it was. | President Trump said on Wednesday that he had made a decision on the nuclear agreement that his predecessor negotiated with Iran, but declined to tell reporters what it was. |
| “I have decided,” he said, repeating the phrase three times. Pressed by reporters, he added, “I’ll let you know what the decision is.” | “I have decided,” he said, repeating the phrase three times. Pressed by reporters, he added, “I’ll let you know what the decision is.” |
| His comments, made as he met with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, came the day after he told the United Nations General Assembly that the deal was “an embarrassment for the United States.” | His comments, made as he met with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, came the day after he told the United Nations General Assembly that the deal was “an embarrassment for the United States.” |
| Under United States law, Mr. Trump has until Oct. 15 to certify whether Iran is complying with the agreement, which required it to dismantle much of its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. Mr. Trump has already certified Iran’s compliance twice, and most analysts said there was no cause to determine otherwise. | Under United States law, Mr. Trump has until Oct. 15 to certify whether Iran is complying with the agreement, which required it to dismantle much of its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. Mr. Trump has already certified Iran’s compliance twice, and most analysts said there was no cause to determine otherwise. |
| — PETER BAKER | — PETER BAKER |
| Speaking to the General Assembly on Wednesday, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran praised the nuclear deal with his country as a “model.” | Speaking to the General Assembly on Wednesday, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran praised the nuclear deal with his country as a “model.” |
| He argued that the Middle East was safer because of it, and said threats by the Trump administration “undermines international confidence in negotiating with it.” | He argued that the Middle East was safer because of it, and said threats by the Trump administration “undermines international confidence in negotiating with it.” |
| “Imagine for a moment how the Middle East would have looked had the J.C.P.O.A. not been concluded.” Mr. Rouhani said, using an acronym for the pact. He also singled out “baseless” allegations made on Tuesday at the General Assembly, without naming anyone. | “Imagine for a moment how the Middle East would have looked had the J.C.P.O.A. not been concluded.” Mr. Rouhani said, using an acronym for the pact. He also singled out “baseless” allegations made on Tuesday at the General Assembly, without naming anyone. |
| The nuclear deal, Mr. Rouhani said, has been widely applauded and endorsed by the Security Council. “As such it belongs to the international community in its entirety and not only to one or two countries,” he said, adding that the agreement “can be a new model for global interactions.” | The nuclear deal, Mr. Rouhani said, has been widely applauded and endorsed by the Security Council. “As such it belongs to the international community in its entirety and not only to one or two countries,” he said, adding that the agreement “can be a new model for global interactions.” |
| Pledging that Iran would not be the first to “violate” the nuclear deal, Mr. Rouhani took sharp aim at President Trump, saying, “It will be a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by rogue newcomers to the world of politics.” | Pledging that Iran would not be the first to “violate” the nuclear deal, Mr. Rouhani took sharp aim at President Trump, saying, “It will be a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by rogue newcomers to the world of politics.” |
| A tweet sent from Mr. Rouhani’s official account also took aim at Trump’s speech. | A tweet sent from Mr. Rouhani’s official account also took aim at Trump’s speech. |
| He also said that American taxpayers should ask why billions of dollars spent in the region had not advanced peace but has only brought “war, misery, poverty” and a “rise of extremism to the region.” | He also said that American taxpayers should ask why billions of dollars spent in the region had not advanced peace but has only brought “war, misery, poverty” and a “rise of extremism to the region.” |
| — SOMINI SENGUPTA | — SOMINI SENGUPTA |
| President Trump is devoting his third day of international diplomacy in New York to a series of individual meetings with foreign leaders on Wednesday, mainly from the Arab world, as he seeks to rally a coalition in the Middle East against Iran. | President Trump is devoting his third day of international diplomacy in New York to a series of individual meetings with foreign leaders on Wednesday, mainly from the Arab world, as he seeks to rally a coalition in the Middle East against Iran. |
| He started on Wednesday morning by getting together with King Abdullah II of Jordan, who has met with Mr. Trump several times already, including an encounter shortly after the inauguration when the king attended a Washington prayer breakfast to lobby the president not to move the United States embassy to Jerusalem. | He started on Wednesday morning by getting together with King Abdullah II of Jordan, who has met with Mr. Trump several times already, including an encounter shortly after the inauguration when the king attended a Washington prayer breakfast to lobby the president not to move the United States embassy to Jerusalem. |
| The two expressed friendship on Wednesday. Mr. Trump praised the king for hosting so many Syrian refugees in his country and for combating terrorism. “He’s a very fine gentleman, a very nice man,” Mr. Trump told reporters at the start of the meeting. “He’s also a great, great fighter.” | The two expressed friendship on Wednesday. Mr. Trump praised the king for hosting so many Syrian refugees in his country and for combating terrorism. “He’s a very fine gentleman, a very nice man,” Mr. Trump told reporters at the start of the meeting. “He’s also a great, great fighter.” |
| The king expressed solidarity. “We’re all fighting together,” he said, adding that terrorism “is a scourge” around the world. “Jordan will always stand beside you and your country.” | The king expressed solidarity. “We’re all fighting together,” he said, adding that terrorism “is a scourge” around the world. “Jordan will always stand beside you and your country.” |
| Mr. Trump will meet later in the day with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt. He also will host a luncheon with African leaders. | Mr. Trump will meet later in the day with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt. He also will host a luncheon with African leaders. |
| – PETER BAKER | – PETER BAKER |
| President Trump on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to brokering peace between Israelis and Palestinians despite widespread doubts, pledging to devote “everything within my heart” to succeed where presidents have failed for generations. | President Trump on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to brokering peace between Israelis and Palestinians despite widespread doubts, pledging to devote “everything within my heart” to succeed where presidents have failed for generations. |
| “I think we have a pretty good shot, maybe the best shot ever,” Mr. Trump said as he met with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority at a New York hotel. | “I think we have a pretty good shot, maybe the best shot ever,” Mr. Trump said as he met with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority at a New York hotel. |
| Mr. Trump acknowledged that it was a “complex subject” and “the toughest deal of all,” but vowed to invest his political energy to making it happen. “I will do everything within my heart and within my soul to get that deal made,” he said. | Mr. Trump acknowledged that it was a “complex subject” and “the toughest deal of all,” but vowed to invest his political energy to making it happen. “I will do everything within my heart and within my soul to get that deal made,” he said. |
| The Palestinians have expressed skepticism about Mr. Trump’s initiative, raising the prospect that they would give up on the effort. But seated beside Mr. Trump on Wednesday, Mr. Abbas said he appreciated “the seriousness of your excellency, Mr. President, to achieve the deal of the century.” | The Palestinians have expressed skepticism about Mr. Trump’s initiative, raising the prospect that they would give up on the effort. But seated beside Mr. Trump on Wednesday, Mr. Abbas said he appreciated “the seriousness of your excellency, Mr. President, to achieve the deal of the century.” |
| “This gives us the assurance and the confidence that we are on the verge of real peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis,” Mr. Abbas said. | “This gives us the assurance and the confidence that we are on the verge of real peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis,” Mr. Abbas said. |
| — PETER BAKER | — PETER BAKER |
| President Trump’s threat to destroy North Korea provoked a debate among scholars of international law about whether he had violated a tenet of the United Nations Charter. | President Trump’s threat to destroy North Korea provoked a debate among scholars of international law about whether he had violated a tenet of the United Nations Charter. |
| Article 2(4) of the Charter says that countries should “refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force” against another country, and grants exceptions only for instances sanctioned by the Security Council or acts of self-defense. | Article 2(4) of the Charter says that countries should “refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force” against another country, and grants exceptions only for instances sanctioned by the Security Council or acts of self-defense. |
| In this case, there was no authorization from the Security Council, so the question is: Was Mr. Trump justified on the basis of self-defense? | In this case, there was no authorization from the Security Council, so the question is: Was Mr. Trump justified on the basis of self-defense? |
| John B. Bellinger III, who served as a legal adviser in the administration of George W. Bush, said that despite his “colorful” choice of words, Mr. Trump was on solid ground, invoking the self-defense argument. | John B. Bellinger III, who served as a legal adviser in the administration of George W. Bush, said that despite his “colorful” choice of words, Mr. Trump was on solid ground, invoking the self-defense argument. |
| “His threat to destroy North Korea did not violate the U.N. Charter because he said that the United States would use force only ‘if the United States is forced to defend itself or its allies,’ ” Mr. Bellinger said by email. “The Charter specifically allows a U.N. member to use force in self-defense.” | “His threat to destroy North Korea did not violate the U.N. Charter because he said that the United States would use force only ‘if the United States is forced to defend itself or its allies,’ ” Mr. Bellinger said by email. “The Charter specifically allows a U.N. member to use force in self-defense.” |
| Kevin Jon Heller, a law professor at the University of London, said he believed that Mr. Trump had overstepped. | Kevin Jon Heller, a law professor at the University of London, said he believed that Mr. Trump had overstepped. |
| “The problem is that self-defense must always be proportionate to the armed attack, and Trump clearly threatened disproportionate force,” Mr. Heller argued. “Had he said a nuclear attack would require wiping North Korea off the face of the earth, that might have been a lawful threat. But he did not qualify the threat in any way; on the contrary, he suggested North Korea would have to be destroyed in response to any armed attack on the U.S. or its allies. That is an unlawful threat that violates Art. 2(4).” | “The problem is that self-defense must always be proportionate to the armed attack, and Trump clearly threatened disproportionate force,” Mr. Heller argued. “Had he said a nuclear attack would require wiping North Korea off the face of the earth, that might have been a lawful threat. But he did not qualify the threat in any way; on the contrary, he suggested North Korea would have to be destroyed in response to any armed attack on the U.S. or its allies. That is an unlawful threat that violates Art. 2(4).” |
| — SOMINI SENGUPTA | — SOMINI SENGUPTA |