Trump Announces Upcoming 'Big Decision' on Iran War Ahead of UN Meeting With Gulf Leaders

US President Donald Trump has announced that he is approaching a "big decision" regarding the next phase of the Iran war. The conflict has now entered its seventh month, with recent fighting between Iran-backed Houthi forces and Saudi Arabia introducing further instability to the region.

In an interview with Axios, President Trump stated that his upcoming decisions will be heavily influenced by discussions with the leaders of six Gulf nations. These meetings are scheduled to take place next Tuesday in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

"I have a big decision coming up," Trump told the news outlet, indicating that he is currently weighing whether to resume major military action against Iran.

High-Level Meetings Scheduled at the United Nations

President Trump is set to meet with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman at the UN headquarters in Manhattan next week.

According to Axios, the discussions are expected to focus primarily on the next phase of the conflict with Iran, alongside US plans for a post-war regional order. Trump emphasized his desire to consult directly with these regional partners before finalizing his strategy.

"I want to find out where they are and how they are doing. We have been very protective of them," Trump told Axios. The scheduled talks come at a time when Gulf states are facing heightened economic and security risks, including threats to energy infrastructure and vital maritime shipping lanes.

Possibility of Negotiations and Diplomatic Contact

Separately, President Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he hoped the nearly seven-month-old war was nearing its conclusion. "Well, hopefully we are towards the end of the war. They want to make a deal, we’ll see how that works out," Trump said, according to Reuters.

Trump also claimed to have communicated "directly" with Tehran, though he did not share specific details regarding when this contact occurred, who participated, or what subjects were discussed. When asked if a deal with Iran was achievable, Trump reiterated, "They want to make a deal, and we’ll see how it plays out."

Despite these statements, Reuters reported that no formal negotiations between the United States and Iran to resolve the war have occurred since the collapse of an interim agreement reached in June.

Houthi-Saudi Escalation and Humanitarian Impact

The diplomatic uncertainty is compounded by an expansion of the conflict into Yemen, where Iran-aligned Houthi forces and Saudi Arabia have been exchanging active strikes.

Houthi forces have secured significant territorial gains along the Red Sea coast of Yemen, capturing strategic positions that overlook the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This strait serves as a critical maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Reuters reported that the Houthi advance has introduced new risks for global shipping and Saudi oil exports.

In response to the Houthi advances, Saudi Arabia has conducted airstrikes in Yemen, while Houthi forces have targeted Saudi territory with missiles and drones. Saudi authorities recently announced the first civilian death inside the kingdom resulting from the latest round of Houthi attacks. According to UN refugee agency data cited by Reuters, the escalation has also displaced more than 100,000 people within Yemen.

Disruptions to Energy Infrastructure and Shipping Routes

The ongoing hostilities have also impacted key alternative routes for exporting Gulf oil. Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline, which moves crude oil from eastern oilfields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, was temporarily shut down following drone attacks on its pumping stations. The pipeline typically transports between 4 million and 5 million barrels of oil per day; three of its pumping stations sustained damage in the attacks.

To mitigate the pipeline disruption, Saudi Arabia has organized alternative crude shipments through Oman's Sohar port using ship-to-ship transfers.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical flashpoint for global energy markets, with commercial vessel traffic through the waterway dropping sharply. While the US Navy has attempted to escort and guide ships through the strait, Iran has declared that the passage will remain closed until Washington lifts its blockade.