President Donald Trump declared Thursday that a deal with Iran on its nuclear program is near, signaling a potential end to years of brinkmanship and threatening rhetoric. Speaking in Qatar as part of his sweeping tour of the Gulf region, Trump suggested that diplomacy may avert military action, cooling fears of an imminent conflict and sending oil markets tumbling.
“We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran,” Trump said to reporters in Doha. “I think we’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this.”
The reference to “nuclear dust” was widely interpreted as Trump publicly distancing himself from military strikes that had been rumored for weeks amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The potential deal — and Trump’s emphasis on diplomacy — marks a significant pivot, even as questions remain about the terms and durability of any agreement.
Following Trump’s remarks, oil prices dropped over three percent — a sharp decline fueled by optimism that a US-Iran deal could stabilize the region. Markets, which had priced in the risk of a wider war in the Middle East, welcomed the news.
Trump hinted that Iran had tacitly agreed to key elements of the deal, though he provided few specifics. “You probably read today the story about Iran. It’s sort of agreed to the terms,” he told reporters.
While Trump did not clarify which report he was referencing, Iranian adviser Ali Shamkhani told ABC News earlier this week that Tehran was prepared to give up its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium in exchange for a lifting of US sanctions — a crucial step toward de-escalation.
The deal, still unofficial, reportedly includes extensive oversight by international inspectors and would restrict Iran’s ability to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels. It would also reinstate parts of the now-defunct Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which Trump had withdrawn the US in 2018.
Qatar, Trump said, played a pivotal role in preventing the situation from escalating into war. “Iran should say a big thank you to the Emir,” he said, referring to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Qatar’s leadership, long seen as a behind-the-scenes mediator in Middle East conflicts, has also been central to efforts to end the Gaza war and secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Trump praised the small but strategically influential Gulf state for pushing for dialogue over conflict, aligning with his own stated desire to avoid new US military engagements.
While Trump claimed to favor peace with Iran, his statements on Gaza were less clear-cut. He once again floated the idea that the United States would “take” Gaza, saying the war-torn enclave would become a “freedom zone.” He offered no explanation for what that would mean in practice.
Since the devastating October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, Gaza has endured relentless bombing, with much of its infrastructure destroyed and over 30,000 casualties reported, according to UN figures. Trump’s language drew both intrigue and alarm, especially as no credible plan for post-war Gaza governance has been presented by the US or Israel.
Trump also warned Yemen’s Huthi rebels that Washington would “go back on the offensive” if they violated a fragile ceasefire brokered earlier this month. The agreement, aimed at halting Huthi drone and missile attacks on Saudi and Emirati targets, was seen as a diplomatic win for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
But Trump’s remarks hinted at a low threshold for military response. “We want peace, but we will strike if they strike,” he said, echoing his often-used “peace through strength” rhetoric.
Beyond the nuclear and geopolitical headlines, Trump repeatedly highlighted the economic windfall of his Gulf tour. “This is a record tour. There’s never been a tour that will raise — it could be a total of $3.5 to $4 trillion just in these four or five days,” Trump said.
The numbers are staggering — and unverified — but reflect a wave of memoranda of understanding, investment pledges, and defense agreements signed during the trip. In Qatar, Trump touted a $200 billion aircraft deal with Boeing. Saudi Arabia, the tour’s first stop, promised $600 billion in deals, including what could become the largest US weapons purchase in history.
In his final destination, the United Arab Emirates, Trump is expected to unveil a tech partnership involving advanced AI chips and cybersecurity platforms, further embedding US firms in Gulf economic diversification plans.
The UAE, flush with petro-dollars and future ambitions, has placed artificial intelligence at the center of its economic agenda. But access to top-tier AI chips remains limited by US export controls. Trump reportedly signaled openness to easing those restrictions following lobbying from UAE’s powerful spy chief and brother of the president, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, during a March trip to Washington.
Such policy shifts — potentially benefiting major US tech companies while arming allies with sensitive tools — have sparked quiet concern among defense analysts wary of technology proliferation in autocratic states.
The tour’s scale and opulence have not gone unnoticed. In Washington, Democrats have raised red flags about ethical improprieties and potential violations of emoluments laws. Among the most controversial revelations: Qatar’s offer of a luxury jet for Trump’s dual use — for both presidential travel and, later, his personal fleet.
“This is corruption in plain sight,” said Democratic Senator Maria Vasquez. “He’s trading American policy for personal gain.”
The Trump team has denied any impropriety, saying all gifts are handled in compliance with US law. But the incident has fueled renewed calls for tighter transparency rules on foreign interactions with US officials.
In a major speech in Riyadh, Trump laid into both the liberal establishment and the traditional Republican foreign policy elite. “The gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called ‘nation-builders,’ ‘neocons,’ or ‘liberal non-profits,’ like those who spent trillions failing to develop Kabul and Baghdad,” he said.
The comments drew applause from Saudi officials, who have sought to cast their economic transformation as independent from the failed interventions of the past. Trump has often used Middle Eastern backdrops to contrast his foreign policy with that of his predecessors.
Yet the speech notably excluded any mention of human rights — a subject his administration has downplayed, particularly in dealing with Gulf monarchies.
Trump’s silence on human rights was especially glaring given his warm praise for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler accused by US intelligence of ordering the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, had initially promised to isolate the prince but eventually softened his stance.
Now, Trump has gone further, portraying Mohammed bin Salman as a “visionary” and lauding the kingdom’s bold spending and futuristic urban projects like NEOM. Critics, however, argue that the normalization of ties without accountability sets a dangerous precedent.
In another headline-making move, Trump announced the lifting of US sanctions on Syria following the toppling of Bashar al-Assad in December. The shift came with a highly symbolic meeting in Riyadh between Trump and Syria’s new transitional leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa — a man once linked to jihadist networks and listed on the US watchlist.
Al-Sharaa, clean-shaven and wearing a Western suit, appeared with Trump in a photo op that raised eyebrows in Washington. “A young, attractive guy,” Trump said of him, dismissing past affiliations and emphasizing the “new future” of Syria.
Trump’s Gulf tour has reshaped the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape — or at least signaled an intent to. His moves on Iran, Syria, and Yemen, combined with massive financial deals, show a president eager to burnish his record with bold gestures.
But questions remain. Will Iran hold to its promises without formal guarantees? Will lifting sanctions on regimes with poor human rights records set back US credibility? And will the trillions Trump claims to have raised translate into sustainable jobs and benefits for Americans?
