Trump cuts short Camp David stay, returns to White House as Iran sets conditions to end conflict

US President Donald Trump cut short his weekend stay at Camp David and returned to the White House on Saturday evening as tensions across West Asia rose sharply, with Iran setting conditions for negotiations to end the war while warning Washington that it was also prepared for a “decisive war”.

The White House did not give a reason for Trump’s early return to Washington. The change in schedule, however, came amid heightened military and diplomatic activity across the region, including a Houthi missile attack targeting Saudi Arabia, fresh US security warnings and Tehran’s decision to communicate its terms for negotiations through Qatar.

Trump back in Washington

Trump had been staying at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, but his schedule was changed to bring him back to the White House on Saturday evening. His return came a day earlier than initially expected. There was no official indication that the change was directly connected to developments in West Asia.

Earlier on Saturday, a NORAD F-16 intercepted a civilian aircraft after it entered restricted airspace near Camp David. The aircraft was safely escorted out of the area, and US authorities said the incident posed no threat to Trump or the presidential retreat. The President’s return nevertheless coincided with growing concern in Washington over the possibility of another escalation in the region. Trump had said earlier this week that he was approaching a major decision over the next phase of the conflict with Iran.

US issues 'blanket West Asia travel alert'

The US State Department has meanwhile stepped up warnings to American citizens as the regional security situation deteriorates. Americans travelling through or staying in West Asia have been asked to exercise heightened vigilance and prepare for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and other disruptions. US missions across several countries in the region have issued security advisories amid concerns that the confrontation could expand with little warning. Washington has cautioned that US interests, businesses and institutions could also face threats as hostilities intensify. The warnings assume greater significance as fighting increasingly moves beyond the direct US-Iran confrontation and draws in other regional actors.