Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Trump to Meet Arab Leaders as Iran War Escalates
Donald Trump is expected to meet Arab leaders in New York next Tuesday.
They will discuss the continuing war involving Iran and what should happen next.
The meeting is planned during the United Nations General Assembly.
The Houthis, a group based in Yemen, have become involved in the conflict.
They have disrupted ships traveling through the Red Sea and attacked Saudi Arabia.
The United States reportedly agreed with the Houthis not to attack each other.
This agreement may make talks with Arab countries more difficult.
The meeting may include countries from the Gulf region and possibly other Arab and Muslim countries.
Trump has given different signals about when the war might end.
U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly scheduled to meet Arab leaders next Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
The talks are expected to address next steps in the conflict with Iran, amid stalled negotiations and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iran-backed Houthis have disrupted Red Sea traffic, declared a blockade of Saudi Arabia, and carried out attacks across the kingdom.
U.S. officials reportedly reached an understanding with Houthi representatives in Oman that neither side would attack the other.
Expected participants include leaders or foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with the meeting possibly expanding to other Arab and Muslim leaders.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump, Arab leaders, Gulf Cooperation Council representatives, and potentially other Arab and Muslim leaders.
- What
- A reported meeting to discuss next steps in the conflict involving Iran and the expanding Houthi front.
- When
- Next week, reportedly on Tuesday during the United Nations General Assembly; the article also describes it as occurring next month.
- Where
- New York City, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
- Why
- To discuss the conflict, stalled negotiations, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea, and Houthi attacks affecting Saudi Arabia.
Reported U.S. Understanding
Arab Security Concerns
Policy toward the Houthis
Reported U.S. Understanding
U.S. officials reportedly reached an understanding with Houthi representatives that the Houthis would not target American interests and neither side would attack the other.
Arab Security Concerns
The Houthis continue to control parts of the Red Sea, disrupt shipping, blockade Saudi Arabia, and carry out attacks that concern Arab partners.
Effect on regional diplomacy
Reported U.S. Understanding
Maintaining the understanding could prevent direct U.S.-Houthi escalation while negotiations over the broader conflict remain stalled.
Arab Security Concerns
The arrangement could complicate talks with Arab partners because Houthi actions are affecting Saudi Arabia, oil supplies, and regional security.
- Reported meeting date
- Tuesday next week, according to the report
- Location
- New York City, during the United Nations General Assembly
- Expected participants
- Leaders or foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman
- Additional participants
- The meeting could be expanded to other Arab and Muslim leaders
- Reported U.S.-Houthi understanding
- Neither side would attack the other, according to reports of talks in Oman
- Red Sea traffic
- The route carries about 12% of the world's seaborne oil and 30% of container traffic
- Saudi oil infrastructure
- The Saudi East-West pipeline accounts for about 4% of the world's crude supply