Trump Determined to End Iran War Soon, Senior US Adviser Massad Boulos Says

US President Donald Trump is actively working to bring the months-long conflict involving Iran to an end and expects the war across the Middle East to conclude soon, according to his senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, Massad Boulos. Speaking at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai, Boulos emphasized that the US president is "a person who delivers" on his commitments.

While expressing strong optimism about the administration's trajectory, Boulos declined to provide a specific timeline for when hostilities might cease, stating that the precise timing will be chosen by the president himself. Boulos made the remarks during an interview with Euronews on September 17, 2026, outlining Washington's regional diplomatic efforts, conditions for peace, and broader geopolitical priorities.

A central condition for resolving the ongoing conflict, according to Boulos, is the settlement of the Iranian nuclear question. He reiterated that Tehran will not be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon, describing a nuclear-armed Iran as an unacceptable risk for the region and the wider world. Boulos stated that the Trump administration has been patient and is giving diplomatic talks and negotiations a chance to succeed.

Addressing regional alliances, Boulos defended Washington's partnerships in the Middle East, highlighting Gulf states alongside Egypt and Jordan as true allies and vital partners. He noted that the administration maintains strong coordination at both leadership and working levels with nations including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, despite recent questions raised by some Gulf partners regarding security arrangements.

Boulos also addressed the future of the Abraham Accords, four of which were signed during Trump's first term. He asserted that the expansion of the normalization agreements had been interrupted by the 2020 presidential election cycle, claiming that numerous additional nations had been lined up to sign. He indicated that regional peace initiatives and the accords would resume once the current Middle East conflict is successfully resolved.

Beyond the conflict with Iran, Boulos highlighted Sudan as the administration's most pressing humanitarian file, describing the situation there as the world's largest humanitarian crisis. He stated that approximately 35 million Sudanese people are currently in need of aid, with 25 million facing famine-like conditions. According to Boulos, the United States remains the single largest humanitarian contributor to Sudan, having provided more than $3 billion since the outbreak of that war, while pursuing an arms embargo through the United Nations Security Council.

On the diplomatic front, Boulos credited Trump with resolving numerous international conflicts in the past, asserting that the president is actively working on multiple other global diplomatic files. Regarding domestic politics, Boulos noted that the ongoing war in Iran is unlikely to heavily sway voter priorities in upcoming US midterm elections, as average American voters typically focus predominantly on domestic economic and social issues.