Trump to Meet Gulf Leaders for Iran Discussions Next Week

<p>President Donald Trump is expected to hold a meeting with Gulf leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 19, 2026, to discuss the next steps in the war with Iran, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the situation.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> The meeting is anticipated to focus on U.S. proposals for a postwar strategy as Trump and his senior team work on a plan expected to be finalized after the midterm elections.</p><hr /><p><strong>What we're watching:</strong> Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also seeks to meet Trump in New York, but no meeting has been scheduled, according to an Israeli source.</p><p><strong>Flashback:</strong> Last year, Trump met with leaders from eight Arab and Muslim countries during the UN General Assembly and presented them with his draft Gaza peace plan, which was publicly presented a week later. A deal to end the war was reached shortly afterward.</p><ul><li>Context: Gulf countries that host U.S. military bases experienced significant Iranian attacks during the war and faced economic losses due to disruptions in oil and natural gas exports.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news:</strong> Trump stated on September 14, 2026, that "hopefully we are towards the end of the war."</p><ul><li>Trump reiterated that Iran wants to make a deal and mentioned that the U.S. has heard this directly from Iran.</li></ul><p><strong>State of play:</strong> Sources indicated that Trump will meet with leaders or foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.</p><ul><li>The White House declined to comment.</li></ul><p><strong>What's next:</strong> The State Department sent out initial invitations on September 14, 2026.</p><ul><li>One source mentioned that the meeting could expand to include other Arab and Muslim leaders.</li></ul>