Trump describes the Iran war as militarily ‘effectively over’ and ending ‘fairly soon’
Donald Trump described the war with Iran as militarily “effectively over” and said it is ending “fairly soon,” but the US president stopped short of officially declaring an end to the conflict on Monday. Asked why, Trump told reporters in the White House press briefing room that some Gulf allies could still face Iranian aggression. “We have some great allies there and we have to make sure they’re not hurt,” he said, suggesting that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports was helping to make the region more secure.
Trump said renewed US attacks on Iran were “highly unlikely,” but that the US was “locked and loaded” should circumstances change. He said the US was “just keeping it the status quo” at the behest of countries that border Iran, and pointed to “positive momentum” behind negotiations to end the Middle East conflict. Iranian officials have repeatedly expressed doubts about Trump’s earlier comments about resolving the conflict.
Trump hosted Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani in the Oval Office earlier on Monday, saying they had an “excellent conversation” about negotiations to end the war. In a post on X, the Qatari prime minister said he held “positive discussions” with Trump and Vice-President JD Vance on “reaching a deal and bringing peace to the region.”
Efforts to broker peace between Washington and Tehran have largely been held indirectly through mediators since the war first broke out following joint US-Israeli strikes in February. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are among the US’s Gulf allies that have been hit by Iranian strikes over the course of the war, in addition to threats of strikes that have led to major air travel disruptions in the region.
Trump has hinted at de-escalation in Iran in the days since the midterm elections on 3 November, in which Republicans lost control of both the House and the Senate. In an interview with 60 Minutes that aired on Sunday, the president said he did not currently see “any reason” to escalate the war. Ahead of the midterms, Trump said US forces conducted what he described as “minor strikes” on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz.
On Monday, Republican congressman Thomas Massie requested a vote in the House of Representatives to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran. Trump has backed Hegseth, who says he is “not worried” about the looming impeachment threats, and has called Massie’s effort a “sham.”
The effort is unlikely to succeed while Republicans still control both chambers of Congress until January, but Democrats have expressed willingness to impeach Hegseth once the new session begins.
Separately, BBC News reported that the US has offered a $20m reward for information about Iran’s nuclear programme.