Trump Administration Develops New Middle East Strategy After Iran War
The Trump administration is preparing a new, broader strategy for the Middle East following the war with Iran, with Washington seeking to reshape the regional balance and establish a longer-term framework for its policy. U.S. officials say the strategy is still being developed and could take several weeks to finalize.
A central objective is to contain Iran’s regional influence while strengthening Israel’s position and expanding diplomatic normalization between Israel and Arab countries. The emerging strategy is expected to guide U.S. policy for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term.
The Gaza conflict remains a major component of the plan. Trump’s earlier Gaza framework envisaged an internationally supported transition, Palestinian technocratic administration, reconstruction, demilitarization and an international stabilization force. The White House says the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza was created to oversee civilian governance and reconstruction.
Trump’s Board of Peace, which includes figures such as Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, has been tasked with helping implement the Gaza framework. However, progress has been slowed by disputes over Hamas disarmament, Israeli military withdrawal and the future political administration of Gaza.
The administration has recently tried to revive the stalled process. U.S. officials have worked with regional mediators on a roadmap for Hamas to surrender its weapons in exchange for an eventual Israeli withdrawal, although major disagreements remain and Israel has not fully endorsed the proposed arrangement.
Washington is also attempting to prevent the Gaza issue from becoming a wider regional crisis. On Saturday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said there is no U.S.-backed plan to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza, distancing the administration from proposals by some Israeli ministers advocating mass displacement.
Beyond Gaza, the emerging strategy reportedly places considerable emphasis on post-war Iran. The administration wants to limit Tehran’s ability to rebuild regional influence while simultaneously pursuing wider Arab-Israeli normalization, potentially opening a new diplomatic phase after the Iran conflict.
The biggest challenge for Washington will be reconciling competing interests: Israel’s security demands, Arab governments’ concerns over Gaza and Palestinian statehood, Iran’s regional ambitions, and the administration’s desire to present a durable American-led Middle East settlement.
For now, the strategy remains a work in progress rather than a finalized policy document. U.S. officials expect more details to emerge in the coming weeks, particularly as Washington coordinates with Israel and regional governments over the post-Iran and post-Gaza political order.
