United States President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with leaders from the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in New York on Tuesday. The meeting, taking place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), occurs as the US-Israel war on Iran approaches its seventh month.

The gathering is significant because the GCC nations have been disproportionately affected by the conflict, despite not initiating it. The war, which began on February 28, has seen Iran repeatedly target US bases, airports, energy facilities, and hotels across the Middle East. This has severely impacted the GCC economies, which heavily rely on oil and gas exports, leading to a global energy crisis.

Discussions are expected to focus on the war's broader implications and potential de-escalation strategies. A previous memorandum of understanding in June aimed at ending the war had collapsed last month due to disagreements over passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which remains largely closed. President Trump has indicated he faces a "big decision" regarding the conflict, adding urgency to these diplomatic efforts.

Experts suggest the GCC countries will likely convey their serious concerns to President Trump regarding the potential consequences of further intensive US military strikes on Iran. They aim to highlight their own vulnerabilities to an escalating conflict and potentially persuade the US president to consider concessions.

The GCC states—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—share common objectives related to regional security and de-escalation. Luciano Zaccara, a researcher at New Ground Research, noted that the GCC "has shared positions on the main principles of regional security and de-escalation."

Giorgio Cafiero, CEO of Gulf State Analytics, anticipates that the GCC leaders will express their grave concerns about the repercussions of increased US military action against Iran. He stated that they "will probably seek to underscore their own vulnerabilities to a renewed cycle of all-out fighting between the United States and Iran."

Two interconnected issues are central to the discussions: the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran and the conflict in Yemen between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed government forces. The GCC nations are keen to find pathways towards stability and to mitigate the economic and security fallout of the regional hostilities.

President Trump's decision to meet with the GCC leaders directly, as he faces a critical juncture in the war, underscores the importance of their input and the shared desire to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape. The presence of Iran's president and foreign minister in New York for the UNGA also adds another layer of diplomatic complexity to the upcoming discussions.