President Donald Trump held a conference call with the leaders of several Middle Eastern nations on Saturday to discuss a possible agreement between the United States and Iran.
The Gulf states that joined the call were Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan, Reuters reported. The call started at 1 p.m. Saturday, according to Axios.
Israel was aware of the emerging deal, with a senior Israeli official telling the latter outlet that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his aides were in touch with the White House about the latest development in the war.
It remains to be seen what results from the call. Trump is considering whether to agree on a deal or resume bombing the Iranian regime, saying he’s a “solid 50/50” between the two options.
“Either we reach a good deal, or I’ll blow them to a thousand hells,” he told Axios.
Trump may make a decision by Sunday after meeting with Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner later Saturday. Vice President JD Vance is also expected to join the discussion.
Vance made an unplanned return to Washington, D.C., after he was aboard Air Force Two for a trip.
Trump is also in D.C. amid mounting tensions with Iran. He canceled a planned weekend trip to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and skipped his oldest son’s wedding in the Bahamas. Donald Trump Jr. is marrying socialite Bettina Anderson.
U.S. officials also canceled their Memorial Day weekend plans amid possible preparations for military action against Iran, CBS News reported on Friday.
As Trump weighs the use of airstrikes, Iran closed its airspace over the western part of the country until Monday.
Pakistan has continued to work at getting both sides to agree on a deal that ends the war. Pakistani army chief Asim Munir left Tehran on Saturday after speaking with Iranian officials.
During an ongoing visit to India, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated a decision may come as soon as Saturday.
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“There might be some news a little later today,” Rubio said regarding Iran. “There may not be. I hope there will be, but I’m not sure yet.”
“There has been some progress done,” he added. “Even as I speak to you now, there is some work being done. There is a chance that, whether it’s later today, tomorrow, in a couple of days, we may have something to say. But this issue needs to be solved, as the president said, one way or the other.”