Trump says Middle East is ‘finally’ on the cusp of peace, calls Iran a sticking point

President Trump said peace in the Middle East is finally at hand, offering an optimistic vision for rebuilding Gaza and bringing harmony to the tumultuous region at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace.

Mr. Trump said the U.S. would contribute $10 billion to the Board of Peace, whose main task is rebuilding Gaza after Israel retaliated against Palestinian militants in Hamas who attacked their country in October 2023.

“The war in Gaza is over, it’s over,” Mr. Trump said. “There are little flames, little flames.”

He said Hamas would be “harshly met” if they did not give up their weapons. In a sign of progress, representatives from the region said Thursday that 2,000 people have signed up to serve as security officers during the Gaza rebuild.

Mr. Trump also said nine countries — Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait — planned to contribute $7 billion toward the effort.

“There’s nothing more important than peace, and there’s nothing more expensive than peace,” Mr. Trump said.

The dollar amounts are significant, but the estimated price tag for rebuilding Gaza is around $70 billion. Mr. Trump said he would see the project through and usher in a new era for the Middle East.

“The people are so incredible,” Mr. Trump said. “But we want to have a harmonious Middle East.”

Mr. Trump said the main sticking point in the Middle East is dealing with Islamic leaders in Tehran.

“We have peace in the Middle East, think of it,” Mr. Trump said. “We do have some work to do with Iran. They can’t have a nuclear weapon.”

U.S. and Iranian negotiators are working on a deal that limits Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, though the sides remain far apart. 

Mr. Trump has threatened military strikes on Iran if it doesn’t reach an agreement.

“They must make a deal,” Mr. Trump said Thursday. “Bad things will happen if [Iran] doesn’t.”

Mr. Trump outlined his roadmap for Gaza and the broader region before representatives from 40 countries at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington.

Mr. Trump created the Board of Peace to oversee the implementation of the U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire agreement and settle international conflicts, particularly in places where the United Nations or other entities fall short.

He said some countries were watching from afar.

“The ones that aren’t here are watching on Zoom. I hope they enjoy it,” Mr. Trump said.

Some Western allies have resisted the effort, worrying it will upset the established order that flows through the U.N. Mr. Trump predicted that many nations would come around.

“I believe it’s the most consequential board, certainly in terms of power and in terms of prestige. There’s never been anything close,” Mr. Trump said. “Some [nations are] playing a little cute.”

Canada expressed interest in the body, only for Mr. Trump to disinvite the northern neighbor after Prime Minister Mark Carney rebuked Mr. Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Vatican on Wednesday said it would not join the board, citing potential conflicts with the U.N.’s mission.

Mr. Trump hosted a charter-signing for the Board of Peace during the Davos meetings, setting the stage for the first meeting in Washington.

Pro-Palestinian protesters greeted Mr. Trump’s motorcade with big signs that said: “Donald Trump go to hell.”

In meandering remarks, Mr. Trump boasted about his foreign endorsements, saying he lifted Argentine President Javier Milei in a recent election and his backing should help Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

He also offered an appraisal of his own team, saying Vice President J.D. Vance likes to be aggressive with other countries while Secretary of State Marco Rubio “does it with a velvet glove.”

Mr. Trump said Norway plans to host a Board of Peace meeting in the future. 

The president said it would have been better if they announced they were awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize.

“I’m saying, oh great, I’m getting the Nobel Prize. Finally, they got it right,” Mr. Trump said. “But I don’t care.”

Mr. Trump has fixated on the peace prize and says that Norway’s government should have sent it his way.

Following Mr. Trump’s remarks, foreign leaders and U.S. officials offered a bold vision for building hundreds of thousands of houses, basic utilities and other infrastructure.

“The war was a horrific, horrific situation,” Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, said. “We are here to help the people of Gaza, to lift them up and give them every opportunity to succeed.”