Al Thani lobbies Trump with Gulf countries against renewed fighting with Iran

Trump forecasts end “fairly soon” as US remains ready if situation changes

The Guardian reported that Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had lobbied Trump alongside other Gulf countries not to resume the fighting against Iran. At a White House press conference after Oval Office talks with Al Thani, Trump said, “We’re seeing momentum toward the end of this conflict. I think it’s going to be ending fairly soon,” according to The Guardian.

That forecast came during a war that had lasted nearly nine months. The Guardian reported that Trump had said a final peace deal with Iran was imminent dozens of times during the conflict.

At the same press conference, Trump said, “At this point, taking the military action doesn’t seem to be a very necessary thing – but we’re locked and loaded, ready to go for any reason,” according to The Guardian.

Trump said an escalation was not needed after the midterm elections and that Israel and Gulf allies were well protected from Iran. He also described the US war in Iran as “effectively over.”

Trump also repeated that Iran would not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. He said that if the situation changed, the US was ready to resume full-scale military action against Iran.

He then said, “At this point, however, that seems to be quite unlikely,” followed by “Israel, and the entire Middle East, are protected from Iranian danger and threats. We are seeing positive momentum toward an end to this Conflict, and will ensure that America’s interests are at all times protected. At the conclusion of this Military Engagement, the American People, and the World, will be far safer and more secure.”

Earlier on Monday, Trump said on Truth Social that the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait would prefer the “status quo, in other words, a continuation of the Greatest Naval Blockade in History”.

The Guardian reported that the US had continued moving troops to the Middle East in the run-up to the midterm elections. The outlet said there was speculation that the Trump administration was waiting for the elections before resuming a military campaign in order to prevent a backlash at the polls.

Republicans lost both houses of Congress. Soon afterward, Vice President JD Vance said the Iran war was a key reason for the defeats.