Trump: Gulf states want naval blockade kept as Iran conflict nears an end

In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump wrote that GCC members "would prefer the status quo, in other words, a continuation of the Greatest Naval Blockade in History, and the new Operation Iron Gate — Therefore, Land and Sea." The post offers no timeline or terms for when either operation might wind down.

The US president paired that with a claim of momentum: Washington is "seeing positive momentum toward an end to this Conflict, and will ensure that America's interests are at all times protected." Once the war is over, he added, the whole world will be "safer and more secure."

The remarks land alongside fragile diplomacy. Al-Arabiya reported Monday, citing sources, that the US and Iran agreed Tehran would cap uranium enrichment inside the country at 3.67% — the level set by the 2015 JCPOA and suitable for civilian nuclear power. Those sources said a "preliminary deal" on reducing enrichment is likely, with talks underway about a third country helping, and that Washington asked existing stockpiles be diluted to 60%.

Separately, China is pushing for next week's expected trilateral meeting between Trump, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at the APEC summit to follow a tightly controlled format with prepared remarks and little open discussion, sources told The Wall Street Journal. Washington wants more back-and-forth among the three leaders.