Trump heaps praise on Middle East leaders at UN meeting on Iran war

What Happened

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump met with Jordan's King Abdullah, Qatar's Sheikh Tamim, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah. Trump said US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had held a three-hour meeting with Iranian officials and that another meeting is scheduled 'in the very near future.' He described the session as 'very good' and 'very productive.' Trump also claimed that 'Operation Epic Fury'—the US-Israeli war that began on 28 February—'crippled Iran's Navy... Eliminated its air force. They have no planes. Hit over 90 percent of its weapons factories and destroyed 450 ballistic missile storage facilities and 800 drone storage facilities.' He warned the US may 'blow up' Pickaxe Mountain if activity resumes. The regional leaders did not address reporters.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The meeting highlights a US effort to create a face-saving off-ramp from the US-Israeli war with Iran that began on 28 February, even as Trump publicly boasts of crippling Iran's navy, air force, weapons factories, and missile and drone storage. For Jordan, Qatar, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, and Kuwait, the gathering signals Washington's expectation of regional alignment while they manage proximity to Iranian retaliation and US military action.

Watch For

Monitor whether the promised 'very near future' follow-up US-Iran meeting is announced and whether it produces any written framework or public communiqué. Watch for independent confirmation or denial of Trump's claimed Operation Epic Fury damage figures, including any Iranian military statements or satellite imagery assessments. Also watch for any activity at Pickaxe Mountain, which Trump said could be struck immediately, and for statements from the region's leaders on their own diplomatic or security positions.