Trump says Iran war ‘effectively over’ after Qatar talks

President Donald Trump said on Monday, Nov. 9, that the war with Iran "militarily is effectively over." It was his clearest signal yet that he does not plan, for now, to resume the bombing campaign against the Islamic Republic. He made the remarks during an unannounced appearance in the White House briefing room. Earlier that day, he and Vice President JD Vance had hosted Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar being the main mediator with Tehran.apnews.com+1

"Iran militarily is effectively over," Trump said. "We're just keeping it the status quo." He added that Iran had been "decapitated" but said he still wanted a long-term arrangement that would defang its nuclear program.apnews.com

Blockade stays in place

In a Truth Social post shortly before the briefing, Trump said Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait "would prefer the status quo." He described that as the continuation of the "Greatest Naval Blockade in History" together with the new Operation Iron Gate on land. He also wrote that the United States is "locked and loaded" if conditions change but that further action "seems to be quite unlikely," and that there was "positive momentum toward an end to this Conflict".trumpstruth.org

Iron Gate is a task force of about 20 people that US Central Command set up to stop weapons, dual-use technology and illicit revenue from moving across Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea. "Iron Gate is land, so by land and by sea, and we will take care of business," Trump told reporters. He said US forces would stay in the region to protect Gulf partners. Sheikh Mohammed said he was "grateful for the positive discussions on reaching a deal and bringing peace to the region".aljazeera.com+2

Talks face hard demands

Qatari officials presented proposals on Iran's nuclear program last week, according to two Middle East government officials who spoke to AP. Tehran's conditions for nuclear talks include ending the blockade, lifting sanctions, unfreezing its assets and paying compensation for war damage. On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called those demands "outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic".thehill.com+1

Political pressure at home

Trump's comments came after Republicans lost both chambers of Congress in last week's midterm elections. Voters were unhappy with the eight-month war and the jump in fuel prices it caused. Trump has threatened escalation several times during the conflict and then backed off, sometimes at the urging of Gulf allies. US forces still carried out limited strikes on Iran at least twice in the past week, and on Saturday they disabled a commercial ship that Washington said was trying to breach the blockade.apnews.com

"The military action doesn't seem to be a very necessary thing," Trump said, "but we're locked and loaded, ready to go for any reason that changes".apnews.com