Washington is beginning to look beyond the nearly seven-month conflict with Iran, even as the terms of any end to the war remain unclear. US President Donald Trump is expected to meet leaders or foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss US planning for the period after the conflict.
Trump said on Wednesday that he hoped the war against Iran was nearing its end. He also claimed that Iran wanted to make a deal and that the United States had heard this directly from Iran. The brief provides no details of an official Iranian indication of willingness to negotiate, or of the state of ceasefire talks.
The planned meeting is to include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. The State Department sent initial invitations on Wednesday, according to the information provided. One source said the gathering could be widened to include other Arab and Muslim leaders, although it remains unknown which countries or representatives might be invited.
The discussion is expected to centre on US ideas for a postwar strategy. Trump and senior officials are also working on a broader “day-after” plan that is expected to be finalised after the November midterm elections. No details of either the immediate strategy or the longer-term plan have been disclosed.
For the Gulf states, the planning comes after direct costs from the war. Countries hosting US military bases suffered major Iranian attacks, while disruptions to oil and natural gas exports caused significant economic losses. The meeting offers the administration a forum to consult regional allies whose security and energy exports have been affected by the conflict.
Trump has used the UN General Assembly for similar discussions with Arab and Muslim leaders. Last year, he met leaders from eight Arab and Muslim countries during the gathering and presented them with his draft Gaza peace plan. The planned GCC meeting could similarly become a wider discussion if further leaders are included, though no outcome or agreement has been specified.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also wants to meet Trump in New York, though no meeting has been scheduled. The White House declined to comment on Trump’s planned talks with the Gulf leaders.
The timing leaves several central questions unresolved: whether Iran will enter negotiations, what arrangements Washington envisages after the war, and whether Gulf governments will support a broader regional approach. For now, the administration is preparing consultations while Trump publicly signals that he believes the conflict may be close to an end.
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