US President Donald Trump expressed hope that the ongoing conflict against Iran might be nearing an end, as reported on September 16. Meanwhile, fighting between Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, and Saudi Arabia has intensified, with the Houthis making territorial gains along the Red Sea coast and launching attacks into Saudi territory. This escalation has raised concerns about global oil supplies, given that the conflict affects shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which previously carried approximately 20% of global oil and LNG trade. Oil prices had risen to nearly $108 a barrel but fell slightly by September 17 after reports suggested Saudi Arabia was offering extra crude shipments via Oman.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 16, US President Donald Trump expressed hope for an end to the ongoing Iran war, stating "hopefully we are towards the end of the war," during remarks at the White House. This comes as the conflict has entered its seventh month with no immediate resolution in sight. Axios reported that Trump is expected to meet with leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries — including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman — on September 22 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss next steps and a postwar strategy for the conflict. The meeting aims to address the economic and military disruptions caused by Iran's attacks on Gulf states and their oil exports, as well as plan for what happens after the war ends, which is not expected to be finalized until after the US midterm elections.
Written for “Iran Us War Talks” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
Trump hopes Iran war nearing end as Houthi-Saudi fighting escalates
AI generated
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fighting → hop → end
WASHINGTON/DUBAI - US President Donald Trump said he hoped an end to the war against Iran was near, as the conflict, in its seventh month, escalated with Saudi aircraft pounding Yemen and Houthi fighters launching drones and missiles at Saudi cities.
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fighters → say → cities
The Iran-backed Houthis’ lightning advance in Yemen along the Red Sea and their attacks on Saudi Arabia, along with attacks that damaged Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, have extended Tehran’s reach in the war and heightened global oil-supply risks.
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that → back → risks
As the war expands into a new theatre, the United States tightened its travel warning for Saudi Arabia, banning government employees from travelling within 30km of the Yemen border.
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States → expand → border
Still, just hours after reports of the Houthis and Saudi Arabia fighting, Trump told reporters on the evening of Sept 16: “Well, hopefully we are towards the end of the war.”
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we → fight → war
“They want to make a deal.
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They → want → deal
We’ll see how that works out,” he said, referring to Iran, reiterating past comments.
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he → see → comments
Trump also said he had heard from Iran “directly”, without elaborating.
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he → say → Iran
Trump has offered shifting goals and timelines for the war that began on Feb 28, when the US and Israel attacked Iran and Tehran struck Israel and US bases in Gulf states.
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Tehran → offer → states
The extension of the war into Yemen threatens to worsen the global energy-supply shortage caused by the war, which has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
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which → threaten → Hormuz
The strait carried about 20 per cent of global oil and LNG before the conflict.
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strait → carry → conflict
Traders say a prolonged closure of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline could cut off as much as 4 per cent of global oil supply.
uncertain
closure → say → supply
Saudi Arabia has not said when operations might resume.
uncertain
operations → say → ?
The price of Brent crude hovered around US$108 a barrel on Sept 16, close to its highest levels since May.
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price → hover → May
The politically sensitive average retail price of diesel fuel in the U.S hit another all-time high, above US$6.30 a gallon for the first time.
But oil prices fell in early on Sept 17 trade as reports of Saudi Arabia offering extra crude cargoes through Oman reduced fears of supply disruptions in the Middle East.
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Arabia → hit → East
Brent crude futures dropped US$1.24, or 1.2 per cent, to US$104.59 a barrel by 0049 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were down US$1.14, or 1.1 per cent, at US$101.29.
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futures → drop → 101.29
The rise in oil and gas prices due to the US-Israeli war on Iran has become a major issue for Trump’s Republican Party in the lead-up to November midterm elections.
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rise → become → elections
Trump to meet Gulf leaders, Axios says
Axios reported late on Sept 16 that Trump was expected to meet Gulf leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Sept 22 to discuss the next steps in the conflict.
Citing sources it did not identify, the news outlet said Trump would meet with leaders or foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.
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Trump → meet → countries
The State Department and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
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Department → respond → comment
The Houthis on Sept 16 released battlefield video of fighters seizing armoured vehicles from Saudi-backed forces.
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fighters → release → forces
The video also showed warplanes flying overhead and huge explosions billowing into the sky from desert dunes.
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video → show → dunes
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had launched fresh drone and missile strikes on the major Saudi Red Sea oil port of Yanbu and at a southern Saudi airbase at Khamis Mushait.
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group → say → Mushait
He did not say when the strikes had taken place.
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strikes → say → place
Saree said the Saudis had carried out as many as 450 air strikes on Yemen this week.
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Saudis → say → Yemen
Officials in the Saudi-backed government that controls southern Yemen have acknowledged that their forces and those of Saudi Arabia were conducting air strikes on Houthi positions, though Riyadh has not confirmed them.
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Riyadh → back → them
Saudi Arabia has led a coalition battling the Houthis since 2015.
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Arabia → lead → 2015
The conflict had largely quietened under a ceasefire in recent years, but reignited when the Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July and fired at southern areas in the kingdom.
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Houthis → quieten → kingdom
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