U.S. President Donald Trump plans to meet leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries in New York next Tuesday during the United Nations General Assembly, with discussions expected to focus on arrangements following the Iran war. The meeting comes as U.S. efforts to revive ceasefire talks have stalled and attacks by Iran and its allied Houthi movement have disrupted energy exports and unsettled crude markets.
Trump to Discuss Postwar Planning
The expected Gulf participants are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. The U.S. State Department sent preliminary invitations on Wednesday, and the gathering could be expanded to include leaders from other Arab and Muslim-majority countries.
The talks are expected to center on a U.S. strategy for the period after the conflict. Trump and his senior team are preparing plans for what they describe as “day two” after the war, although the proposals are not expected to be finalized until after the U.S. midterm elections in November. It remains unclear what specific responsibilities Washington wants Gulf states and Iran to assume, or when ceasefire negotiations could resume.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also wants to meet Trump in New York, but the two sides had not finalized a meeting as of Wednesday. After arriving in North Carolina, Trump said Iran had contacted the United States directly and wanted to reach an agreement. He said Iran “wants to make a deal” and suggested the war could be nearing its end, without disclosing details of the reported contacts.
Saudi Pipeline Shutdown Adds Pressure to Energy Flows
The diplomatic activity comes as Gulf states continue to absorb the economic effects of the conflict. Saudi Arabia shut its East-West oil pipeline after a drone attack damaged facilities. The pipeline carries crude from the kingdom’s eastern oil-producing region to the Red Sea port of Yanbu and provides a route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
Crude prices initially rose on Wednesday as traders assessed the risk of a supply disruption, then eased after Saudi Arabia was said to have arranged for additional oil to be shipped through Oman’s Sohar port. The shipments use ship-to-ship transfers, helping to reduce concerns about a prolonged supply shortfall. Brent crude fell back to $105.80 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate declined 0.22% to $102.14 a barrel.
The rerouting has not eliminated the supply risk. If the East-West pipeline cannot be restored within several days, inventories at Saudi export terminals could gradually decline. Michael Feller, chief strategist at Geopolitical Strategy, said repairing the pipeline would help ease pressure on the market, but the timing of the repairs would directly affect the kingdom’s export capacity.
Strait of Hormuz Remains a Key Market Variable
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres renewed his call on Wednesday for the parties to de-escalate tensions and pursue a diplomatic solution, while also urging the restoration of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is a major conduit for global energy shipments. Prolonged security incidents could force vessels to take longer routes, raise transport costs and increase volatility in oil prices.
Feller said Iran could reconsider negotiations after the U.S. midterm elections, but warned that the conflict could last longer if Tehran remains unwilling to engage diplomatically. He put forward the possibility that the war could continue through the end of 2028 or beyond, while stressing that the duration would depend on future negotiations, military operations and the restoration of energy transport. No firm arrangement currently confirms when the conflict will end.
For markets, the ability of Trump’s meeting with Gulf leaders to produce a concrete ceasefire or postwar framework could affect crude supplies, shipping insurance and regional energy exports. For now, investors and energy traders remain focused on the repair of Saudi Arabia’s pipeline, conditions for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and whether the United States and Iran resume formal negotiations.