Gulf Arab states are preparing to press President Trump to avoid intensifying confrontations with Iran during their meeting on Tuesday, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. Officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and three other member nations, have been coordinating for the talks with Trump, the sources said.
The GCC member states are seeking an end to the ongoing conflict. During the U.S.-Iran war, their territories and vessels were subjected to thousands of Iranian missile and drone strikes. With shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continuously disrupted, these nations have experienced varying degrees of economic contraction or significant slowdowns.
While differences persist among these Arab governments on how to handle Iran and Tehran's claimed sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, they are unified in hoping that their meeting with Trump can help drive the war toward a conclusion. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Tuesday it is prepared for a "protracted conflict," with a spokesperson stating: "If national interests require us to fight, we must fight. If national interests require us to negotiate while the war continues, we must negotiate."