Trump tells reporters Iran war is 'finished in practice' after Qatar meeting
The president said military operations have effectively ended, but the U.S. will maintain a naval blockade and keep thousands of troops deployed off the Iranian coast.
By Victoria Hayes ·
President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that the war in Iran has effectively ended from a military standpoint. He made the remarks following a surprise meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in the White House press room. Trump described the conflict as finished in practice, noting that the administration is currently maintaining the status quo.
The president stated that Iran has been decapitated militarily but that the U.S. seeks a long-term solution to neutralize the Iranian nuclear program. He indicated that further military action does not seem necessary at this time. However, Trump confirmed that the U.S. remains ready to act if circumstances change. He noted that Iran is communicating with the U.S. politely and that there is a good possibility the war could conclude.
Trump's comments follow the midterm elections last week, where Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress. Voter dissatisfaction with the eight-month conflict and rising fuel prices was a major factor in the results. Prior to speaking with the press, Trump posted on social media that U.S. allies in the Middle East, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, prefer the current status quo.
The U.S. military will continue to enforce a naval blockade against Iranian ports to restrict oil flows. Trump described it as the largest military blockade in history. He did not indicate that the thousands of U.S. soldiers deployed to the waters off Iran would be withdrawn. Qatari officials presented proposals regarding Iran's nuclear program last week, according to two anonymous Middle Eastern government officials.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the next steps depend on the president. He suggested the U.S. might tell Iran that the conflict is over and that the U.S. will monitor its nuclear materials. Hegseth has faced criticism for the war's execution, with opponents arguing it violated the War Powers Resolution. Republican Representative Thomas Massie began a process on Monday to force a vote on impeaching Hegseth, largely due to his role in the conflict.
Iran continues to demand several concessions before entering nuclear talks. These include ending the U.S. blockade, lifting sanctions, unfreezing assets, providing war damage compensation, and ending regional hostilities, including Israeli operations in Lebanon. The U.S. has conducted limited attacks on Iranian air defenses at least twice in the past week. It also disabled a commercial ship on Saturday that it said attempted to break the blockade. Trump said the U.S. has identified 38 bridges and other infrastructure targets that would be struck if military action resumes.
