Trump Calls Iran War Militarily Over, Signals Pause in US Strikes
The president said renewed attacks are highly unlikely while a Qatari envoy visits Washington, even as Republicans face internal pressure over the conflict's cost.
By Samuel Hayes ·
President Donald Trump declared on Monday that Iran is "militarily effectively over" and stated that new US military strikes are "highly unlikely." He made the remarks from the White House briefing room, asserting that the current status quo is being maintained at the request of neighboring nations.
Trump indicated a shift in strategy following recent midterm election results that dealt a blow to the Republican Party. Senior figures, including Vice President JD Vance, attributed the poor performance in part to the ongoing war in the Middle East. The president told reporters that the US forces are "locked and loaded" should conditions change, though he sees no immediate reason to escalate.
The administration is actively pursuing diplomatic channels to end the conflict. Trump met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani in the Oval Office on Monday. The Qatari leader posted on social media that he held "positive discussions" with Trump and Vance regarding a potential deal to bring peace to the region.
Efforts to broker peace have primarily relied on indirect mediation since joint US and Israeli strikes launched the war in February. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have all sustained damage from Iranian strikes. The US maintains a naval blockade on Iranian ports, a measure Trump says helps secure the region and protect Gulf allies from further aggression.
Tensions within the Republican Party have intensified since the elections. Representative Thomas Massie requested a House vote on Monday to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his handling of the Iran war. Trump defended Hegseth, labeling Massie's effort a "sham," while the Defense Secretary stated he is "not worried" about the threat.
Democrats have signaled their intent to move forward with impeachment proceedings once they take control of both the House and the Senate in the new congressional session starting in January. For now, the White House focuses on negotiations while keeping military options open if the diplomatic track stalls.
