United States President Donald Trump has signalled that he considers the US-Israel war on Iran \u201ceffectively\u201d at an end, after meeting with Qatar officials in Washington, DC.<\/p>\n
In a surprise briefing on Monday, Trump reiterated his position that the US had destroyed Iran\u2019s military. But his remarks suggested he faces pressure from allies in the Middle East to bring hostilities to a close.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIran, militarily, is effectively over. We\u2019re just keeping it the status quo,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re doing that really at the behest of countries that are their neighbours.\u201d<\/p>\n
His comments followed a closed-door meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who hailed the progress in a post on social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe discussed the situation in the region and ways to progress the US-Iran talks,\u201d the prime minister said. \u201cGrateful for the positive discussions on reaching a deal and bringing peace to the region.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, Trump acknowledged the \u201cstatus quo\u201d would involve continuing the US naval blockade against Iranian ports, as well as the newly announced Task Force Iron Gate, which seeks to cut off trade by land and through the Caspian Sea.<\/p>\n
\u201cQatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and others would prefer the status quo, that we remain as is,\u201d he said. \u201cIn other words, a continuation of the greatest naval blockade in the history of our country. Probably in the history of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump also indicated in his briefing that the US was willing to resume fighting, should the need arise.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaking military action doesn\u2019t seem to be a very necessary thing, but we\u2019re locked and loaded, ready to go for any reason that changes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIsrael and the entire Middle East are protected from Iranian danger and threats, and we\u2019re seeing momentum toward the end of this conflict. I think it\u2019s going to be ending fairly soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iranian officials, meanwhile, dismissed Trump\u2019s latest remarks as a distraction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe war on Iran has already wrecked the US government. But Washington flails like a desperate gambler,\u201d Iran\u2019s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei wrote in a post on social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cFOLD YOUR HAND. STOP manufacturing FAKE NEWS about imaginary talks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Separately, Iran\u2019s President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the country\u2019s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had called for an end to the situation, which he described as \u201cneither war nor peace\u201d.<\/p>\n
Pezeshkian added that Iran was open to further negotiations but would not be coerced, according to Iranian media. \u201cWe will not surrender to force and bullying,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Since the war on Iran began on February 28 , the conflict has spilled into surrounding countries and roiled international trade.<\/p>\n
Almost as soon as the US and Israel began their attacks, Iran moved to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil, gas and fertiliser, among other goods.<\/p>\n
Iran also responded to US and Israeli strikes with missile and drone fire on its neighbours in the Gulf, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE, with many of the attacks targeting US military installations.<\/p>\n
Other, related conflicts have since emerged. Saudi Arabia has renewed its fight against the Iran-backed Houthis, and Israel began its occupation of southern Lebanon, as well as deadly airstrikes.<\/p>\n
In the nearly nine months since the war began, the US offensive against Iran has grown sporadic, with intermittent exchanges of fire. In recent days, for instance, the Trump administration announced \u201cminor strikes\u201d<\/a> against Iran\u2019s Qeshm Island.<\/p>\n It also offered a $20m reward for \u201cinformation about Iran\u2019s nuclear program, including its facilities, equipment, and associated personnel\u201d.<\/p>\n After the Twelve-Day War in June 2025, Trump had claimed that Iran\u2019s uranium enrichment programme had been obliterated. But he has since made curtailing Iran\u2019s nuclear programme a central premise for the ongoing war.<\/p>\n Iran has long denied seeking a nuclear weapon, maintaining its uranium enrichment programme is for the purposes of civilian energy generation.<\/p>\n Officials in Iran, meanwhile, have pushed for the US to accept seven conditions in order to end the war.<\/p>\n They include lifting the US naval blockade, reparations for war-related damage, an end to sanctions against its economy and a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon and Gaza.<\/p>\n Qatar has served as one of several key mediators in the conflict. Sheikh Mohammed, the prime minister,\u00a0also serves as foreign minister and has been known to act as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.<\/p>\n