Gulf States to Press Trump Against Iran Escalation as Brent Tops $100

Gulf Cooperation Council states will urge President Donald Trump to avoid escalating hostilities with Iran at a September 22 meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, according to people familiar with the matter. GCC members — including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar — are coordinating ahead of the talks as Iranian missile and drone attacks disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, slashing their economies. Qatar's GDP is forecast to shrink 12% and Kuwait's 11% this year, Bloomberg surveys show. Brent crude has risen 63% in 2026 to about $100 a barrel, with US diesel at a record, fueling global inflation and bond yields. Trump has alternated between threatening more strikes and seeking a deal, and said over the weekend he may meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said September 22 it is prepared for a "long war."