Trump to meet Gulf leaders in New York as Iran war nears seven months

President Trump is scheduled to meet the leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council states Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, as the US-Israel war on Iran approaches its seventh month.

The Gulf states — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — share a common push for de-escalation, according to analysts who spoke to Al Jazeera. Their economies have taken heavy blows from the war: Iran has struck US bases, airports, energy facilities and hotels across the region, and the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, disrupting oil and gas exports. Qatar's prime minister described the economic fallout as an "earthquake."

A June memorandum of understanding briefly raised hopes for an end to the war but collapsed last month over disputes about navigation through the strait.

Trump told Axios he faces a "big decision" on the war and wanted to speak with the GCC leaders directly. Analysts say his focus is domestic: midterm elections are weeks away, his approval ratings are at a record low, and he faces pressure to lower petrol prices. The talks are unlikely to produce a breakthrough, with the best-case scenario an agreement to return to negotiations.