Trump weighs next move in Iran war as Tehran threatens new weapons

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump called off planned U.S. airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman requested assistance; the decision was influenced by diplomatic considerations during the U.N. General Assembly and internal opposition within Trump's circle.
• The Trump administration is proposing a $5 billion fund, called the Partnership for Allied Trust and Construction (PACT), to help Middle Eastern countries rebuild energy infrastructure damaged in the Iran conflict and reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran's delegation to the U.N. General Assembly faces U.S. visa denials for some members, limiting their access; meanwhile, Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are both expected to attend the assembly, setting the stage for a tense diplomatic encounter.
• Houthi forces in Yemen are aggressively pushing to seize strategic heights near the Red Sea coast, threatening to cut off Saudi-backed government territories, while Saudi Arabia is urged by former U.S. military officials to take stronger action against Houthi missile attacks.
• Saudi Aramco has significantly increased oil exports through Gulf terminals following recent attacks on its infrastructure, contributing to a drop in global oil prices below $100 per barrel amid cautious optimism for U.S.-Iran diplomacy at the U.N. General Assembly.