Leaders of six Gulf Arab countries are preparing to press President Donald Trump against widening the nearly seven-month conflict with Iran after he told the United Nations that failure to reach an agreement could lead him to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
Gulf Arab leaders are expected to urge President Donald Trump to pursue diplomacy with Iran rather than further military escalation when they meet with him Tuesday in New York, placing regional governments directly into discussions over the war only hours after Trump delivered one of his starkest warnings to Tehran.
Officials representing Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman have coordinated ahead of the meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, according to reports citing people familiar with the discussions. Gulf officials intend to press the administration against expanding the conflict and favor negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement with Iran. The six countries make up the Gulf Cooperation Council, whose representatives were scheduled to meet Trump after his U.N. address.
Their diplomatic push follows Trump’s warning earlier Tuesday that Iran faces a choice between reaching an agreement with Washington or confronting potentially overwhelming U.S. military action.
“But I have a big decision to make,” Trump said. “Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly?”
Trump used his address to defend the U.S. war against Iran and said an agreement remained possible, while warning that he could “annihilate the Islamic Republic” if negotiations fail. He also said he believes Washington and Tehran ultimately will reach a settlement, suggesting that an agreement could come after the November midterm elections.
The Gulf governments enter Tuesday’s meeting with considerable exposure to whatever direction Washington takes next. The war has directly affected countries across the region through attacks on territory and shipping, while disruptions involving the Strait of Hormuz have imposed additional economic pressure on governments heavily dependent on energy exports and maritime commerce. Continued regional instability has also weighed on Gulf economies and intensified concerns surrounding major shipping routes.
Those consequences have shaped the Gulf states’ changing response to the conflict.
Before hostilities began, Gulf governments warned Trump that war with Iran could destabilize the broader Middle East. Some governments subsequently adopted tougher positions following Iranian retaliation, but the continuing conflict and Tehran’s demonstrated ability to strike neighboring countries have contributed to a renewed emphasis on diplomacy and de-escalation.
Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, described the regional upheaval Sunday as an “earthquake,” underscoring the consequences the conflict has produced beyond Iran itself.
He said lasting regional security could not be established through “repeated cycles of escalation and retaliation,” as Qatar called for a broader security framework based on sovereignty and efforts to prevent countries in the region from threatening one another.
The concern among Gulf governments extends beyond whether the United States launches additional attacks. Regional leaders are also weighing the possibility of being pulled further into the conflict against uncertainty about how extensively Washington would protect Gulf countries if the U.S. eventually reduced its military presence in the Middle East.
Gulf leaders have previously urged Trump to hold back from major military escalation because of concerns that Iran would retaliate against countries hosting U.S. forces or otherwise cooperating with Washington. Trump has at times responded to those concerns by delaying military action, according to reporting ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.
That history gives Tuesday’s talks added importance as the administration decides how to proceed with Iran.
The diplomatic meeting is occurring alongside indications from both Washington and Tehran that negotiations have not been entirely ruled out despite Trump’s warning at the United Nations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that the United States remained open to discussions with Iranian officials during the General Assembly, although no meeting had been scheduled. Trump separately expressed confidence that a settlement eventually could be reached.
Iran has also signaled a possible opening tied to the Strait of Hormuz. A senior Iranian official said Tehran could reopen the strategically important waterway within days if the United States reduced military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports. The strait remains central to international energy shipments and to the economic interests of several Gulf states.
The possibility of renewed negotiations comes after nearly seven months of conflict and repeated exchanges of threats between Washington and Tehran. The fighting has also unfolded alongside attacks involving Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, adding another source of instability for Gulf governments and regional shipping.
For the six Gulf Cooperation Council states, Tuesday’s discussions with Trump therefore center not only on relations between Washington and Tehran but also on the potential consequences of another escalation for their territory, energy infrastructure, shipping routes and economies.
Their message to Trump is expected to emphasize restraint and diplomacy at a moment when the administration is simultaneously warning Iran of further military action and leaving open the possibility of a negotiated settlement.
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