Trump to meet Gulf leaders on Iran next week, Axios reports
Trump says Iran wants to make a deal, while Iran's security chief says talks depend on Tehran's demands being met.
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Trump plans to hold talks with Gulf leaders on Iran next week, Axios reported Wednesday.
Trump has said Iran wants to make a deal, while Iran's security chief has said talks will not happen until Tehran's demands are met. Trump has also said he hopes the US is near the end of the war in Iran, as Gulf states weigh their own talks with Tehran.
The talks come amid continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf. A US-contracted ship was hit in a fresh round of attacks this week, following an earlier strike on a US-contracted vessel that was part of a broader pattern of assaults on commercial traffic. US officials have said they expect the shipping attacks to end after the midterm elections.
Trump's push for a Gulf summit fits his stated preference for negotiation over escalation, and Vance's signal that the conflict will shift phases after the midterms. Gulf involvement could help de-risk regional tensions and energy markets, but Blinken's point that Iran has used military action while negotiating suggests talks may not quickly ease the geopolitical premium built into oil and shipping costs. The near-term market impact stays neutral unless the talks produce concrete commitments.