: US President Donald Trump met with Arab and Gulf leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, joined by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, King Abdullah II of Jordan, the Syrian President, the Iraqi Prime Minister, and other leaders.
Discussions during the meeting focused on the ongoing conflict with Iran, regional conditions, and diplomatic efforts. Trump stated that his special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, held a constructive meeting lasting nearly three hours with Iranian officials and mediators. According to him, prospects for progress toward a deal with Iran exist, and further talks are expected.
Trump remarked that Iran itself is a major hurdle in reaching an agreement, though he urged Iranian leadership to seize the current opportunity. He asserted that Iran can by no means acquire nuclear weapons and noted that the Iranian economy is in an extremely poor state. The US President also accused Iran of targeting neighboring countries’ merchant vessels, warning that if renewed activity is detected in Iran’s mountainous nuclear facilities, the United States could target them. Referring to past statements, Trump reiterated that such sites could be bombed again if necessary.
Describing the US military as the most powerful in the world, Trump claimed the US has eliminated the possibility of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. He initially suggested that a conflict with Iran could potentially conclude after November’s mid-term elections, though he later mentioned the possibility of a deal occurring sooner. Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Trump claimed that the waterway is currently witnessing high oil transit volumes since the conflict began, stating that the US successfully extracted over a billion barrels of oil from the area while the US Navy cleared the passage of mines. US military officials have also confirmed increases in oil and LNG shipments through the Strait in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Iran has conditioned the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on the easing of US military pressure and sanctions, while the recent New York meeting between US and Iranian officials is viewed as a significant diplomatic development amidst ongoing tensions.
