Camp David Meeting Focuses On Iran War And Saudi-Houthi Conflict In Yemen
Vice President JD Vance chaired an unannounced meeting of President Donald Trump’s senior national security officials at Camp David, as Washington considers its next steps on Iran and Houthis, Axios reported.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - President Donald Trump’s top national security and cabinet officials gathered secretly at Camp David on Friday for hours of discussions on the Iran war and the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen, according to three US officials cited by Axios.
The meeting was not announced by the Trump administration and marked an unusual gathering of senior officials at the presidential retreat. Axios reported that the last similar meeting took place in June 2025, days before Israel went to war with Iran.
Vice President Vance chaired Friday’s meeting, according to the officials cited by Axios.
Among those attending were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.
One US official told Axios that “things were decided or at least deeply discussed” during the meeting, referring to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
The White House declined to comment on the meeting.
The meeting came as negotiations with Iran have stalled and Trump is considering whether to resume major combat operations in Iran, according to Axios.
“Now I have to make a decision: either Iran signs the deal, or it won't exist any longer,” Trump said Thursday.
At the same time, Trump is facing calls to join Saudi Arabia’s planned offensive against the Houthis in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia is urging the US president to conduct airstrikes against the Houthis. Trump has been leaning against such action, although US officials said he could change his mind.
On Friday afternoon, while his senior advisers were meeting at Camp David, Trump was asked by Kurdistan24 Washington Bureau Chief Rahim Rashidi about his next move on Iran.
“If I told you, you would have a major story,” Trump said. “But you will see. It is working out very well. Iran is not doing well.”
In separate remarks, Trump said the Iran issue would be resolved soon and said Iran was in a difficult situation.
The US president also said that once the war in Iran ends, oil prices could fall back to pre-war levels and potentially below them.
Trump said Europe and the United States have large quantities of gas and play a major role in global energy markets.
“We have a very good relationship with Europe and they are willing to participate, because they have a lot of gas and the United States is not making any decision to ban gas exports,” Trump said.
On Saturday, Trump said Europe had agreed to release a large amount of oil and gas into the market.
French President Emmanuel Macron said G7 leaders had agreed to release 100 million barrels of gas and crude oil from their strategic reserves into markets over the next four months.
The rise in diesel prices across the European Union, alongside growing concerns over a possible US decision to restrict gas exports, has triggered calls within the bloc for measures to address the situation.
The developments come as European governments consider ways to respond to pressure on energy markets while Washington weighs its next steps in the Iran conflict and the wider regional crisis.