(MENAFN) U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in New York on Friday, following an Israeli airstrike earlier this week that targeted Hamas leaders in Doha, according to local reports.

Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, is expected to join the meeting, the reports indicated.

The Qatari prime minister traveled to New York after a brief but significant one-hour discussion with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House earlier on Friday, media reported.

Describing the White House talks as "very positive," the report highlighted that the discussions focused on Qatar's pivotal role in promoting peace efforts in the Middle East, along with advancing a defense cooperation agreement between the U.S. and Qatar.

The timing of the prime minister’s U.S. visit coincides with an emergency Arab summit convened by Qatar in response to Tuesday's Israeli airstrike.

In a phone call with Qatari officials later that day, Trump expressed regret over the location of the attack and reassured them that such incidents would not occur again on Qatari soil.

Qatar has strongly criticized Israel for undermining peace prospects but remains committed to its mediation efforts in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

MENAFN14092025000045017169ID1110058030