US President Donald Trump will chair the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace on Thursday, the White House has confirmed, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrives in Washington on Thursday on an official visit.

The high-level gathering is expected to focus on Gaza’s reconstruction and stabilization efforts, with billions of dollars in funding set to be announced.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said President Trump will chair the first meeting of the Board of Peace.

According to her briefing, member states are expected to announce $5 billion in funding during the meeting. More than 20 countries will participate in what she described as the Gaza Peace Board meeting.

The discussions will center on the proposed Gaza Reconstruction and Stabilization Force, a key component of the broader peace and recovery framework.

Shehbaz on three-day US visit

Prime Minister Sharif is arriving in the United States today on a three-day official visit at the invitation of President Trump.

He will attend the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington. The prime minister’s delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with other federal ministers.

Also Read: PM Shehbaz to seek clarity on troops for Gaza in US visit

During his stay, Shehbaz Sharif is expected to engage with participating counterparts and senior US leadership. The visit is seen as an opportunity for Pakistan and the United States to discuss bilateral relations as well as key regional and global issues.

White House comments on Iran

In the same briefing, Karoline Leavitt said President Trump prefers a diplomatic solution to the Iran issue. She added that it would be better for Iran to reach an agreement soon. Referring to past developments, the spokesperson stated that the United States destroyed Iranian nuclear facilities through an operation last year.

She also noted that many arguments could be presented in favour of a possible attack on Iran, underscoring Washington’s firm stance while keeping diplomatic options open.