Five talking points ahead of Tuesday's UN General Assembly General Debate

UN General Assembly 2018: Iran, the US and the UK will be in the crosshairs today

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1. Expect Trump’s speech to be self-congratulatory

Mr Trump will speak at the UN for the second time in an address that is expected to focus on celebrating his year of foreign policy work and setting out his ambitions in the Middle East.

2. Which draft will Rouhani reach for when he speaks?

Amid uncertainty over the nuclear deal and recent accusations that the US orchestrated a terror attack on Iranian soil last week, Hassan Rouhani’s speech will be closely watched. The Iranian President has reportedly drafted several versions and will choose the one that is the most appropriate response to Mr Trump’s speech.

3. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) summit

UANI’s annual conference will feature policy experts and senior government officials discussing the threat Iran poses to the world. The group aims to inform and persuade policymakers that Iran’s nuclear threat should be dealt with by economic sanctions and diplomacy.

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The National in New York:

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4. Attenborough to address environment event

With plastic pollution at the top of the global environmental agenda, this side event will attempt to inspire commitment to reduce plastic waste using examples from the European Union and G7. David Attenborough, whose Blue Planet TV series has been credited with increasing global plastics awareness, will deliver a key speech.

5. Theresa May will face one of her toughest tests

As Brexit negotiations inch ever closer to “no deal” rather than a smooth exit, the British Prime Minister will be looking to rebrand the UK as a nation that is open to trade. Scheduled for the end of the first day, Mrs May might struggle to inspire what is likely to be a fatigued audience.

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Read more:

UN General Assembly 2018 schedule

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