Gulf States to Urge Trump Toward Diplomacy in Iran Conflict

Gulf state officials are scheduled to meet with President Trump on Tuesday, aiming to persuade him to pursue diplomatic solutions rather than further escalation in the conflict with Iran. The meeting is set to take place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Representatives from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including key allies Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, are expected to discuss the ongoing war with Iran. This conflict has significantly disrupted the Persian Gulf's economy and led to widespread damage and chaos attributed to Iranian missile and drone assaults.

The GCC nations, which had previously urged Trump against initiating the war with Iran, are hopeful for an "off-ramp" to the conflict. Their efforts have yielded results in the past; Trump stated he called off a major retaliatory strike on Iran last month after Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar indicated that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was within reach.

However, that diplomatic effort did not materialize, and the conflict has since broadened. In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have seized control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, another critical oil shipping route.

President Trump has recently reiterated threats to "wipe out" Iran, particularly in response to Tehran's refusal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz until U.S. demands are met. Iran, in turn, has warned of extensive attacks on U.S. troops and American allies in the region if hostilities intensify. The Gulf allies are particularly concerned about their own critical infrastructure potentially being targeted.

Despite Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warning of preparedness for a "long war," an IRGC spokesman indicated on Tuesday that the country remains open to negotiation. This comes as Iran's economy continues to suffer under U.S. sanctions and high inflation.

Trump has suggested that a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian might be possible this week during the UN General Assembly, though his specific stance on the current situation remains unclear. The GCC's diplomatic push aims to leverage the ongoing assembly to de-escalate tensions and prioritize dialogue.