US President Donald Trump has said the US-Israel war on Iran is “effectively” over militarily, following a meeting with Qatar’s prime minister in Washington, DC, amid growing pressure from regional allies to end the conflict.
Speaking at an unexpected briefing on Monday, Trump reiterated that US forces had destroyed Iran’s military capabilities, reports Al Jazeera.
“Iran militarily is effectively over,” he said. “We’re just keeping it the status quo, and we’re doing that really at the behest of countries that are their neighbours.”
His remarks followed a closed-door meeting with US Vice President JD Vance and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
In a social media post after the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed said they had discussed ways to advance negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
“We discussed the situation in the region and ways to progress the US-Iran talks,” he said.
“Grateful for the positive discussions on reaching a deal and bringing peace to the region.”
Trump said maintaining the current situation would involve continuing the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and implementing the newly announced Task Force Iron Gate, which aims to disrupt trade by land and through the Caspian Sea.
“Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and others would prefer the status quo, that we remain as is,” he said. “In other words, a continuation of the greatest naval blockade in the history of our country. Probably in the history of the world.”
He also warned that Washington remained prepared to resume military operations if necessary.
“Taking military action doesn’t seem to be a very necessary thing, but we’re locked and loaded, ready to go for any reason that changes,” he said.
“Israel and the entire Middle East are protected from Iranian danger and threats, and we’re seeing momentum toward the end of this conflict. I think it’s going to be ending fairly soon.”
Iranian officials dismissed Trump’s remarks as an attempt to divert attention from the situation.
“The war on Iran has already wrecked the US government. But Washington flails like a desperate gambler,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei wrote on social media.
“FOLD YOUR HAND. STOP manufacturing FAKE NEWS about imaginary talks.”
Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had called for an end to the current situation, which he described as “neither war nor peace”.
Pezeshkian said Iran was open to further negotiations but would not accept coercion, according to Iranian media.
“We will not surrender to force and bullying,” he said.
The conflict, which began on February 28, has spread across the region and disrupted international trade.
Soon after the US and Israel launched their attacks, Iran moved to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil, gas, fertiliser and other commodities.
Tehran also retaliated with missile and drone attacks on neighbouring Gulf countries, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE, targeting several US military installations.
The conflict has also intensified tensions elsewhere. Saudi Arabia has renewed its campaign against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, while Israel has expanded its occupation of southern Lebanon and carried out deadly air strikes.
Over the nearly nine months since the war began, US military operations against Iran have become sporadic, with intermittent exchanges of fire. In recent days, the Trump administration announced what it called “minor strikes” against Iran’s Qeshm Island.
Washington has also offered a $20 million reward for information about Iran’s nuclear programme, including its facilities, equipment and associated personnel.
After the Twelve-Day War in June 2025, Trump claimed that Iran’s uranium enrichment programme had been completely destroyed. However, curbing the country’s nuclear programme has remained a central objective of the ongoing conflict.
Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, maintaining that its uranium enrichment activities serve civilian energy purposes.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials have outlined seven conditions for ending the war. These include lifting US sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian funds, recognising a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz agreed with Oman, and ending hostilities on all fronts, including Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
Qatar has played a key mediating role in the conflict, with Sheikh Mohammed, who also serves as foreign minister, acting as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.
During Monday’s meeting, he reportedly presented Trump with a two-day proposal from Iran to end the war.
Asked by a reporter why he would not simply declare an end to the conflict, Trump defended the continued blockade, citing regional security concerns, and called for a long-term solution.
“We have some great allies there, and we have to make sure they’re not hurt, and they would be hurt,” he said.
“They are right now a lot safer than they were six months ago because Iran’s been very much decapitated. But they’re still the bully of the Middle East a little bit.”
