Vance chairs secret Camp David meeting on Iran war and Yemen

Vice President JD Vance chaired an unannounced Camp David meeting Friday with President Trump’s top national-security aides on the Iran war and Saudi Arabia’s fight with Yemen’s Houthis, three U.S. officials told Axios. CBS News confirmed the meeting Saturday, citing sources familiar with it.

Why now: Negotiations with Tehran have stalled. Trump said Thursday Iran will “either sign a very fair deal, or they won’t exist any longer,” The Hill reported. On Friday, while aides were at Camp David, Trump told reporters that if he described his next move “you would have a major story,” adding that “Iran is not doing well,” Axios said. At a Mobile, Alabama, rally Friday, Trump said the war will end “very soon,” “probably right after the midterms,” Fox News reported. He also said 18 U.S. service members have been killed in the conflict.

Yemen track: The same meeting covered Saudi plans against Iran-backed Houthis who threaten Red Sea shipping, Axios said. A separate Axios report Friday said Riyadh is preparing a major offensive near Bab el-Mandeb and wants U.S. airstrikes; Trump has been leaning against joining but could change his mind. The U.S. has been providing intelligence and targeting support and has sent additional Patriot batteries to help protect Saudi and Qatari energy sites, Axios reported. On Saturday, the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of launching dozens of strikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, CBS News and AFP reported.

Iran’s position: Tehran has pitched a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for steps such as ending the U.S. naval blockade and easing oil sanctions, with Qatar mediating, the Associated Press reported. Trump has publicly rejected Iran’s latest offer; mediators say talks continue and the sides still disagree on sequencing.

Uncertainty: Both the Axios and CBS accounts rest on unnamed sources. There is no on-record White House confirmation or readout. No independent AP or Reuters confirmation was found as of 10:16 a.m. PT Saturday. It is not known what, if anything, was decided. Whether the U.S. resumes major strikes on Iran, joins Saudi airstrikes, or keeps pressing for a deal remains unresolved.

Primary for the meeting: Axios (Barak Ravid), published ~Oct 3, 2026 02:56 UTC (~7:56 PM PT Oct 2) — three anonymous U.S. officials; Vance chaired; Rubio, Hegseth, Witkoff, Ratcliffe, Gen. Dan Caine; “Things were decided or at least deeply discussed”; WH declined comment; last similar huddle June 2025 before Israel–Iran war; Trump considering renewed major combat ops; Saudis urging U.S. airstrikes vs Houthis, Trump leaning against. Times of Israel and Middle East Eye liveblog entries cite Axios — not independent confirmation. Context (not the meeting): The Hill (Julia Manchester), Oct 1 — Trump South Lawn: “They’ll either sign a very fair deal, or they won’t exist any longer.” Fox News live blog Oct 2 — Trump Mobile, Ala. rally: war end “very soon,” “probably right after the midterms”; 18 U.S. service members killed; carrier/MEU buildup. Axios Oct 2 — Saudis plan Yemen offensive, U.S. intel support but not joining strikes for now; additional Patriots to Saudi/Qatar energy sites. AP via PBS (Magdy/Lee), Sep 28 — mediators still working; Iran seven-day Hormuz reopen plan; sequencing dispute (Tehran wants blockade/sanctions relief first; U.S. wants nuclear steps). Draft does not claim decisions were final, that U.S. will resume bombing, or that Iran is linked to FlyDubai. Meeting itself remains single-outlet anonymous-source reporting at draft time. Re-checked 9:00 PM PT Oct 2: no AP or Reuters confirmation found; Axios anonymous-official attribution kept. Added note of the July 31 publicized Camp David Cabinet meeting so Axios’s 'last similar meeting' line is not misread. Axios date label set to PT. Refreshed 10:16 AM PT Oct 3 after Robert's re-approval: CBS News (live updates, 11:34 a.m. ET) independently confirmed the Friday meeting and all six attendees via sources familiar; WH did not immediately respond to CBS. CBS does not confirm Vance chaired or decisions. Added Fox News video (Alexandria Hoff) as right-leaning coverage (no claim of independent sourcing). Added Houthi claim of Saudi strikes on Sanaa Saturday (CBS/AFP). Still no WH statement; no independent AP/Reuters confirmation found.