Trump declares Iran war 'over in practice' after surprise White House visit
The president met with Qatar’s prime minister on Monday, stating that the US will maintain its naval blockade while seeking a long-term nuclear deal.
By Luana Sato ·
President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that the war with Iran has effectively ended from a military standpoint. He made the announcement after an unannounced visit to the White House news briefing room, where he had just met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
“Iran militarily is, in practice, finished,” Trump said. “We are just maintaining the status quo.” The president described the Iranian leadership as “decapitated” but noted that the administration is still working toward a long-term solution to neutralize Tehran’s nuclear program.
Trump’s comments represent a shift from his previous threats to resume bombing campaigns. Those threats had become a major issue for voters in the midterm elections held the previous week. Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress to the Democrats, a result driven largely by public frustration over the conflict. The war, launched by the United States and Israel eight months ago, has driven up fuel prices and impacted the global economy.
The White House has not signaled any reduction in the thousands of US troops deployed in waters off Iran. These forces maintain a naval blockade designed to stop Iranian oil from reaching the global market. “We are maintaining it. We have the biggest military blockade in history,” Trump stated.
Diplomatic efforts are ongoing. Two Middle Eastern government officials said that Qatari officials presented proposals regarding Iran’s nuclear program last week. However, Tehran insists on several concessions before formal negotiations begin. These demands include ending the US blockade of Iranian ports, lifting sanctions, unfreezing assets, and providing compensation for war damages.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday that the next steps are up to the president. He suggested the US could tell Iran that the military engagement is finished and that Washington would monitor nuclear material to ensure it does not move. Hegseth has been a prominent defender of the war, though critics argue the administration violated the War Powers Resolution by launching the conflict without proper authorization.
In a related development, Republican Representative Thomas Massie initiated a process on Monday to force a vote on impeaching Hegseth. Trump told CNN in a Sunday interview that resuming attacks is unlikely if Iran signs a solid deal. He revealed that the US has identified 38 bridges as potential targets if military action resumes. The US military has conducted limited strikes on Iranian air defenses in the last week and disabled a commercial vessel on Saturday that allegedly tried to break the blockade.
