Trump says the war with Iran is effectively over
The president told reporters on Monday that military operations have ceased in practice, following a surprise meeting with Qatar’s prime minister.
By Pedro Barnes ·
President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the military conflict with Iran has effectively ended.
The president made the remarks after a surprise visit to the White House press room. He had just finished a meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. Trump described the situation as a maintenance of the status quo. He said Iran has been decapitated but that the administration still seeks a long-term solution to neutralize its nuclear program.
These comments represent a shift from previous threats to resume attacks. The Republican Party lost control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections held last week. Many voters expressed dissatisfaction with the war, which began eight months ago. The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has driven up global fuel prices and affected nearly every sector of the world economy.
Trump indicated that diplomatic progress is likely. He noted that Iran is communicating with the United States politely. He said military action does not appear necessary at this time, though forces remain ready to act if circumstances change. Earlier in the day, he posted on social media that regional allies, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, prefer the current status quo.
The military posture remains unchanged despite the diplomatic signals. Thousands of American troops remain deployed in waters off the coast of Iran. They maintain a naval blockade to restrict the flow of Iranian oil to global markets. Trump called it the largest military blockade in history. Officials from Qatar presented proposals regarding Iran’s nuclear program last week. The White House declined to comment on the specifics, though Trump alluded to ongoing indirect talks with Tehran last week.
Teheran continues to list specific demands before it will negotiate on its nuclear program. These demands include ending the US blockade of Iranian ports, lifting sanctions, and unfreezing assets. Iran also seeks compensation for war damage and an end to hostilities in the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon. Trump has previously rejected several of these demands. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday that the next steps depend on the president. He described the potential outcome as watching Iran’s nuclear material and ensuring it does not move.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie launched a process on Monday to force a vote on impeaching Hegseth. The move cites his execution of the war. Trump told CNN in a phone interview on Sunday that resuming attacks is unlikely if Iran signs a solid agreement. He noted that the US has identified 38 bridges as infrastructure targets if military action resumes. The US military conducted limited strikes on Iranian air defenses at least twice in the last week. It also disabled a commercial ship on Saturday that attempted to break the naval blockade.
