Trump says further US attacks on Iran are highly unlikely
Donald Trump told reporters in the White House briefing room on Monday that further US attacks on Iran are “highly unlikely,” saying Washington is holding to the “status quo” at the request of Iran’s neighbours while remaining “locked and loaded” if conditions change. He again declared that “Iran militarily is effectively over” and pointed to “positive momentum” in talks aimed at ending the Middle East conflict, though Iranian officials have repeatedly questioned his earlier claims that the war can be resolved.
The political setting has shifted after a bruising midterm result for Republicans last week, which senior figures including Vice-President JD Vance tied to the Iran war. Trump has hinted at de-escalation. Before the vote he said US forces had carried out “minor strikes” on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz; in a 60 Minutes interview aired Sunday he said he saw no present “reason” to escalate. Asked why he would not formally end the war, he said Gulf allies could still face Iranian aggression and that the United States “have to make sure they’re not hurt,” arguing a naval blockade of Iranian ports was making the region more secure. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have been struck during the war, and strike threats have disrupted air travel. Mediated, mostly indirect talks have continued since the conflict began after joint US-Israeli strikes in February.
On Monday Trump hosted Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani in the Oval Office and called their discussion of peace talks “excellent.” On X the Qatari leader described “positive discussions” with Trump and Vance on a deal and regional peace. Pressure inside Washington is rising: Republican congressman Thomas Massie moved Monday to force a House impeachment vote on Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump has backed Hegseth, who called the effort a “sham” and said he is “not worried.” The bid is unlikely to succeed while Republicans control Congress until January; Democrats have said they would pursue impeachment once they hold both the House and the Senate.
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