Trump Says Iran War May Be Nearing End as Gulf Talks Expected

World 10:31 AM - 2026-09-17

US President Donald Trump.

US President Donald Trump has said he hopes the war with Iran is nearing an end, as reports indicate that he is expected to meet Gulf leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next Tuesday to discuss the conflict.

The war has now entered its seventh month, with no clear end in sight.

According to Axios, Trump’s planned meeting with Gulf leaders in New York is expected to focus on US plans for the post-war period. The report, citing people familiar with the matter, said Trump is expected to meet with leaders or foreign ministers from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

Neither the US State Department nor the White House responded to requests for comment.

Trump previously told reporters: “We hope we are on the path to ending the war.”

Referring to Iran, he added: “They want to reach a deal. We’ll see how things go,” echoing previous comments. Trump also said he had heard from Iran “directly”, without providing further details.

Rising oil and gas prices linked to the US-Israeli war with Iran have become a significant issue for Trump’s Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections.

Axios reported that Trump is expected to brief Gulf states on proposals for a post-war strategy towards Iran. The US President and senior officials are also working on a “day-after” plan, which the report said is expected to be finalised after the congressional midterm elections.

Trump has previously suggested that the conflict with Iran could end after the midterms and said Tehran was interested in negotiations. However, the details and prospects of any potential diplomatic process between Washington and Tehran remain unclear.

In June, Washington and Tehran reached a provisional memorandum of understanding, but the arrangement failed to produce a lasting resolution to the conflict. Confrontations later resumed, particularly over the status of the Strait of Hormuz and arrangements for restoring international shipping through the strategic waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz has since emerged as a central focus of the conflict, following a sharp reduction in vessel traffic through the waterway.


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