Trump sees positive momentum toward a deal after meeting Qatar’s prime minister. Iran called his remarks a distraction.
President Donald Trump said Monday that the war with Iran is “militarily effectively over,” after meeting Qatar’s prime minister and Vice President JD Vance at the White House. Speaking in a surprise visit to the briefing room, Trump said the U.S. is “just keeping it the status quo.” He cited “positive momentum” and a good chance the war could end. In a Truth Social post, he said a resumption of U.S. strikes was “quite unlikely,” and he said Gulf states prefer the status quo.
The remarks are among Trump’s most definitive about stepping back from threats to resume bombing since the midterm elections. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said he was grateful for positive discussions on reaching a deal. Al Jazeera reported he presented a two-day Iranian framework to end the war. Trump framed the continuing U.S. blockade as a regional security matter.
Iranian officials dismissed Trump’s comments as a distraction. Tehran has demanded the U.S. end the blockade on its ports, lift sanctions, unfreeze its assets, pay compensation and end hostilities across the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon, before it engages in nuclear talks. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier Monday that the next steps are up to Trump, including telling Iran the U.S. is done while it watches Iran’s nuclear material.
Oil prices fell sharply and U.S. stocks rallied on hopes for talks, Al Jazeera reported. The war is about eight months old and has driven up fuel prices worldwide.
This report draws on Al Jazeera, The Associated Press, Arab News, The Globe and Mail and New Arab.