US President Donald Trump expressed hope that the war against Iran is approaching its final stage. The conflict, now in its seventh month, has grown more intense as Saudi aircraft strike targets in Yemen while Houthi fighters fire drones and missiles toward Saudi cities.
The Houthis have made rapid gains along the Red Sea coast in Yemen. Their recent attacks on Saudi Arabia, including damage to the East-West oil pipeline, have expanded Iran’s influence in the conflict and raised fresh concerns about global energy supplies. In response, the United States strengthened its travel warning for Saudi Arabia, prohibiting government employees from going within 20 miles of the Yemen border.
Just hours after news of the renewed fighting, Trump told reporters he believes the end of the war may be close. He added that Iran wants to reach a deal and claimed he has heard from Iranian officials directly, though he offered no further details. Trump has previously shifted his stated goals and timelines since the conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran and Tehran responded by attacking Israel and American bases in the Gulf.
The spread of fighting into Yemen adds pressure to already disrupted energy markets. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which once carried about 20 percent of the world’s oil and LNG, remains affected. Traders warn that a prolonged shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline could remove as much as 4 percent of global oil supply. Saudi officials have not said when the pipeline might reopen.
Brent crude oil prices stayed high near $108 a barrel on Wednesday before slipping early Thursday after reports that Saudi Arabia offered extra cargoes through Oman. Still, elevated fuel costs remain a political challenge for Trump’s party ahead of the November midterm elections.
Axios reported that Trump plans to meet Gulf leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss postwar strategy. The meetings are expected to include representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
Meanwhile, Houthi forces released video showing them seizing armored vehicles and launching fresh strikes on Saudi targets, including the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Saudi-backed forces have also conducted hundreds of air strikes on Houthi positions this week, according to local reports.
