Trump Claims Near Deal on Iran Nuclear Program During Gulf Tour, Oil Prices Drop
ABU DHABI/DOHA: US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that a potential deal on Iran’s nuclear program is close, easing fears of military conflict and causing oil prices to plunge over 3%. The remarks came during his high-stakes Gulf tour, where he also touted securing “trillions of dollars” in deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
Key Developments:
✔ Iran Nuclear Deal Progress – Trump said Tehran has “sort of agreed” to terms, including dismantling its stockpile of highly enriched uranium in exchange for sanctions relief.
✔ Oil Market Reaction – Crude prices dropped sharply on hopes Iranian exports could soon return to global markets.
✔ Gulf Tour Deals – Trump claimed 3.5−4 trillion in economic agreements, including:
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$200B Boeing-Qatar Airways deal (largest in aviation history).
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$600B Saudi investment pledge (including massive US arms purchases).
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UAE’s $1.4T US investment plan over a decade.
✔ AI & Tech Partnership with UAE – The two nations are finalizing a deal to boost AI chip exports, critical for the UAE’s post-oil economic diversification.
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Trump rolled back Biden-era restrictions on advanced tech sales to the Gulf.
✔ Syria Sanctions Lifted – In a win for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), Trump announced the end of US sanctions on Syria, following a rare meeting with interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Controversies & Criticism:
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Qatar gifted Trump a luxury jet ahead of his visit, raising corruption concerns among Democrats.
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No mention of human rights, despite Biden’s past boycott of MBS over Jamal Khashoggi’s murder.
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Iran deal skepticism – While Trump claims progress, Tehran has yet to confirm final terms.
What’s Next?
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Finalizing Iran deal – If successful, it could stabilize oil markets but faces pushback from Israel and US hawks.
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UAE’s AI ambitions – Access to US chips could position the Gulf as a tech rival to China.
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Geopolitical shifts – Trump’s pro-Gulf policies mark a stark contrast with Biden’s approach, deepening US-Saudi-UAE ties.
Trump’s Gulf tour has reshaped regional alliances, securing massive economic deals while advancing diplomatic breakthroughs on Iran and Syria. However, the lack of transparency on human rights and corruption concerns continues to draw criticism. With oil markets reacting swiftly and AI partnerships expanding, the long-term impact of these moves could redefine US influence in the Middle East.
