Senior national security officials in US President Donald Trump’s administration held a secret meeting to discuss Washington’s next steps in the war on Iran and the ongoing conflict in Yemen, raising questions over potentially major decisions being considered by the White House.
Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported that the meeting lasted several hours at Camp David and was chaired by Vice President JD Vance. Participants included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
An Unusual High-Level Meeting
US officials described the gathering as highly significant, saying several matters concerning crises in the Middle East were either “decided or at least deeply discussed”.
Rubio confirmed that the meeting had taken place, explaining that the National Security Council regularly brings officials together for long-term strategic planning. He acknowledged, however, that holding such a meeting at Camp David was not routine.
The gathering carries additional significance because a similar meeting was held in June 2025, only days before the outbreak of Israel’s war on Iran.
The timing has therefore fuelled questions over whether Washington is approaching another major decision concerning its military involvement in the region.
Iran at the Centre of Washington’s Deliberations
The meeting came as negotiations between Washington and Tehran remained stalled and Trump considered resuming large-scale combat operations against Iran.
Trump said last Thursday that Tehran must either agree to a deal or “it won’t exist any longer”, escalating his rhetoric as his administration weighs its next steps.
While his senior advisers were meeting at Camp David, Trump also suggested that a decision on Iran could be approaching.
Asked about his next move, Trump said the situation was “working out very well”, adding that Iran was “not doing well”.
The comments came as Washington continues to weigh whether to deepen its military confrontation with Tehran following the failure to reach an agreement through negotiations.
Saudi Arabia Presses Washington Over Yemen
Yemen was another major focus of the Camp David discussions.
According to Axios, Saudi Arabia has been pressing Trump to participate in a planned aerial offensive against the Houthis, including through direct US airstrikes.
Trump has so far leaned against accepting the Saudi request, although US officials cited by Axios said his position could change.
Saudi Arabia has been preparing a broader military offensive in Yemen, with plans involving Yemeni ground forces backed by Saudi air power. Reuters reported that Washington is already providing intelligence support, while Riyadh has sought more direct US military involvement.
The secret Camp David meeting therefore brought together two of the most sensitive military files facing the Trump administration: whether to resume major combat operations against Iran and whether Washington should deepen its role in a new escalation in Yemen.
With Trump offering no public details of the decisions under consideration, the unusual gathering of senior military, intelligence, diplomatic and economic officials has intensified scrutiny over what Washington may be preparing to do next.
