Iran War: Trump Hopes Conflict Is Moving Toward an End

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he hopes an end to the war with Iran is near, as the conflict enters its seventh month with no clear resolution in sight, and as a new report suggests he plans to meet Gulf leaders next week to discuss what comes after the fighting stops.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said he believes the war is hopefully approaching its end, adding that Iran wants to reach a deal and that he had heard directly from Iranian officials, though he did not elaborate further. His comments echo similar statements he has made throughout the conflict, which has seen shifting timelines and objectives since it began.

Axios reported late Wednesday, citing unnamed sources, that Trump is expected to meet with leaders or foreign ministers from Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York next Tuesday, with discussions expected to focus on US planning for the postwar period. The State Department and White House did not respond to requests for comment on the report.

The war began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with attacks on Israel and Gulf states hosting American military bases. The resulting fighting, including strikes on Lebanon, has killed thousands and displaced millions across the region. Trump has cited weakening Iran’s nuclear capabilities as a central goal of the campaign, though Iran maintains it does not possess nuclear weapons and says its uranium enrichment program serves peaceful purposes; the United States itself possesses nuclear weapons.

The conflict has also become a domestic political issue, with rising oil and gas prices tied to the war emerging as a significant concern for Trump’s Republican Party ahead of November’s midterm elections.

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