Trump says US-Iran war is effectively over after Qatari talks

President Donald Trump declared on Monday that the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran is effectively finished. He made the statement during an impromptu briefing at the White House following a meeting with Qatari mediators. The president described the current military situation as a stable status quo maintained at the request of neighboring countries.

According to Trump, the United States is preserving the current state of affairs largely because its regional partners prefer it. He stated that American forces have dismantled Iran's military capabilities. The administration intends to continue the naval blockade of Iranian ports. It will also enforce Task Force Iron Gate, a new initiative designed to halt overland trade and traffic through the Caspian Sea. Trump characterized this effort as the greatest naval blockade in history.

The president noted that several Middle Eastern nations favor the continuation of these measures. He cited Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait as key supporters. These countries reportedly preferred the maintained blockade for both the United States and the world. Much of the discussion during the recent White House session focused on the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Vice President JD Vance and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani participated in the White House meeting. Al Thani posted on social media expressing gratitude for the positive discussions aimed at reaching a deal. The Qatari leader said the talks sought to bring peace to the region. The session was part of diplomatic efforts to manage the aftermath of the conflict.

Despite the optimistic tone, Trump declined to guarantee a long-term ceasefire. He told reporters that he does not guarantee anything. He added that if the United States needs to re-engage, the country is locked and loaded and ready to act. These comments signaled that military options remain open for the administration.

Iranian officials dismissed the president's comments as a tactic to distract from the reality on the ground. Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, wrote on social media that the war has already damaged the US government. He described Washington as flailing like a desperate gambler. Rezaei urged the US to stop manufacturing fake news about imaginary talks.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian conveyed a message from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei via the state-aligned Tasnim News Agency. Khamenei called for an end to the current situation, which Pezeshkian described as neither war nor peace. Pezeshkian stated that Iran remains open to further negotiations but insisted that it would not be coerced into a specific outcome. He emphasized that Iran will not surrender to force or bullying.