President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the Iran conflict is “effectively over” from a military standpoint, citing a positive momentum behind diplomatic talks aimed at ending the Middle East war. Trump told reporters at the White House that renewed U.S. attacks on Iran were highly unlikely, though he emphasized that the United States remains “locked and loaded” should circumstances change.
In a statement, the president noted that the U.S. is maintaining the status quo at the behest of neighboring countries. He added that some Gulf allies could still face Iranian aggression, and that the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports is helping to secure the region. Trump also highlighted a recent meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, describing their conversation as “excellent” and noting that the two leaders discussed negotiations to bring peace to the region.
Qatar’s prime minister later confirmed on X that he had “positive discussions” with Trump and Vice‑President John D. Vance about reaching a deal. These talks are part of a broader effort to broker peace between Washington and Tehran, which has largely been conducted through indirect mediators since the war began after U.S. and Israeli strikes in February.
Trump’s remarks come amid a backdrop of domestic political pressure. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has called for an impeachment vote against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war, while Hegseth has dismissed the effort as a “sham.” The president has defended Hegseth, stating he is not worried about the looming impeachment threats.
While the U.S. has not officially declared an end to the conflict, Trump’s comments suggest a shift toward de‑escalation. He noted that the U.S. forces had carried out what he described as “minor strikes” on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz before the midterm elections, and he said he does not see any reason to further intensify the war.
Source: BBC World
Read the original article
Editorial note: This is an original news report prepared from the attributed source material with AI assistance. It is not a reproduction or translation of the original article.
