Will the US strike Iran again? President Trump says it's ready to, but the countries in the middle would much rather it didn't. In a phone interview on Monday, after meeting Qatar's prime minister, Trump said Qatar and Saudi Arabia would prefer a peaceful end to the conflict with Iran. He also made clear the US could restart strikes whenever it decides to, saying "we're ready to go anytime we want."
For anyone flying to Dubai, Doha, Riyadh or anywhere else in the Gulf this winter, that mix of peace talk and warning matters a lot. Trump also said new strikes are "highly unlikely" if talks make progress on Iran's nuclear program and on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway a huge share of the world's oil passes through. I'd call that cautiously good news for travelers. I just wouldn't book a trip on it yet.
Why the Gulf's Opinion Matters So Much for Flights
Qatar and Saudi Arabia aren't just bystanders here. They're home to some of the biggest airports and airlines in the world, and both have been hit hard by the fighting. Saudi Arabia's main airport in Riyadh was shut down after a deadly attack last month, and Iran recently listed places across the region it could target. When two of the countries with the most at stake on the ground are pushing for calm, it's a sign they're feeling the cost, and that they have real pull with the White House.
That's the hopeful part. The less hopeful part is that nobody has announced a deal, Iran has threatened a fierce response if the US attacks again and Trump says a US blockade aimed at Iran is now in effect. The situation can still swing quickly in either direction, and airlines know it.
Where Airlines Stand Right Now
Most big Western airlines are still keeping their distance from parts of the Gulf, and many have pushed their return dates well into next year. Air France has paused Dubai until at least Nov. 11 and Riyadh until Dec. 12. Lufthansa, along with Swiss and Eurowings, isn't flying to Dubai until at least Nov. 25. KLM has paused Dubai until late March, and ITA Airways won't be back in Dubai until Jan. 30. Virgin Atlantic has gone furthest, suspending Dubai until October 2027.
There are signs of life, though. British Airways just went back to Dubai after eight months away, and Gulf carriers like Emirates have kept much of their networks running. Even when flights do run, they often take longer, since many airlines are still steering around Iranian and Iraqi airspace. Some trips to Dubai and Doha now take about an hour longer than before the war.
What I'd Do If You're Flying to the Gulf
If you already have a trip booked, check your airline's travel alert page, since many airlines are letting passengers change or cancel flights to the region without a fee. American Airlines, for example, has a travel alert covering Doha trips into early January. If you're still planning, I'd stick with refundable or easily changeable fares, and avoid tight connections through Gulf hubs if you can.
My read is that this is the most encouraging thing we've heard in a while, mostly because the countries with the most to lose are leaning hard toward peace. But "ready to go anytime" is still hanging over all of it, and one round of strikes could undo weeks of airline schedules overnight. If you want more on specific destinations, I've also broken down whether it's safe to fly to Dubai and which airlines are flying to Saudi Arabia. I'll update this story as talks move forward.
