Morning update

Good morning Middle East Eye readers, the latest updates from the region reveal that US President Donald Trump is set to meet Gulf leaders during the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. The discussions will likely revolve around the next steps in the war against Iran, with Washington focusing on its own postwar strategy, according to Axios.

The State Department announced its intention to extend sanctions, which include denying visas to Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization. This decision comes ahead of the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York next week, as reported by AFP, citing a source familiar with the matter. It was also revealed that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was already denied an entry visa for the event.

South Korea's foreign minister, Cho Hyun, stated that no decision has been made regarding a military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz. The decision remains under review, considering various factors, as Cho Hyun specified before departing for Washington.

In a separate development, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran had directly reached out to Washington and was willing to negotiate a deal. Following his arrival in North Carolina, Trump told reporters that "they want to make a deal, and we’ll see how that works out." He added that "hopefully, we are towards the end of the war."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi praised recent consultations with Chinese officials, describing them as "successful." Araghchi emphasized Iran's value for the strategic partnership built over time, stating, "Iran values the strategic partnership we have built over time." He also backed Chinese President Xi Jinping's four principles for regional peace.