Gulf leaders meet Trump fearing Iran war and shrinking US protection

Gulf Arab leaders meet President Donald Trump in New York on Tuesday, fearing deeper involvement in the Iran war as Washington weighs escalation or withdrawal. They previously persuaded him to halt a major attack in August. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar urged Trump to hold fire on a strike, but no deal with Tehran has emerged since, oil prices remain high and US midterm elections approach. Gulf states now face attacks on energy infrastructure while Trump shows little appetite for direct intervention. Beyond immediate escalation, leaders worry about a reduced US military presence in the Gulf, which they argue would embolden Iran. Riyadh’s request for US strikes on Houthis was declined, testing the post-1991 security bargain.