Trump Eyes End to Iran War, Plans Gulf Leaders Meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he hopes the seven-month war with Iran is approaching an end, as reports indicate he plans to meet Gulf leaders in New York next week to discuss the conflict and a potential postwar strategy.

Axios reported that Trump is expected to hold talks Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly with leaders or senior officials from the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. The discussions are expected to focus on U.S. plans for the Middle East after the Iran war.

The White House and State Department had not publicly confirmed the reported meeting.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday evening, Trump expressed optimism that the conflict could be nearing a conclusion. He also said Iran wants an agreement and claimed Tehran had communicated with his administration directly, though he provided no further details.

The war began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate against Israel and Gulf countries hosting U.S. military bases. The conflict has since continued for months, with fighting affecting regional security and global energy markets.

Trump has identified weakening Iran's nuclear capabilities as one objective of the military campaign. Iran maintains that its uranium enrichment program is intended for peaceful purposes and says it does not possess nuclear weapons.

The Trump administration has also been developing a broader postwar Middle East strategy. Reported proposals include strengthening regional cooperation among U.S. allies, containing Iran and expanding normalization between Israel and neighboring countries.

Energy prices remain another major concern. Disruptions linked to the Iran conflict have pushed oil and fuel costs higher, increasing economic pressure ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in November. The upcoming Trump-Gulf meeting could therefore prove important for both regional diplomacy and global oil markets as Washington considers how to bring the conflict to an end.