President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Wednesday about the potential end of the conflict with Iran, as separate media reports surfaced about a potential meeting with Gulf leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next Tuesday to discuss the ongoing conflict.
The war with Iran has been ongoing for seven months, with no clear resolution in sight.
According to Axios, Trump's expected meeting next week in New York with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders or foreign ministers will likely concentrate on post-war strategic plans for the United States.
The report, based on unnamed sources, did not receive immediate comments from the State Department or the White House.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump expressed to reporters, "Well, we're hopeful that we're heading towards the end of the war."
Speaking about Iran, Trump mentioned, "They want to reach an agreement. We’ll see what happens," echoing previous statements. He also indicated that he had heard from Iran "directly," without revealing further details.
The war has also led to surging oil and gas prices, becoming a significant issue for Trump's Republican Party ahead of the midterm elections in November.