Donald Trump says further US strikes against Iran are highly unlikely

US President Donald Trump stated that further American military action against Iran is "highly unlikely," declaring that the country is "effectively over" in military terms as momentum builds toward ending the regional conflict.

Speaking from the White House briefing room, Trump explained that the United States is currently maintaining the status quo, largely acting on requests from regional partners situated near Iran. However, he cautioned that Washington remains "locked and loaded" to react if regional circumstances deteriorate.

The remarks followed high-level talks in the Oval Office between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani. Qatar has served as a pivotal intermediary in indirect diplomatic communications between Tehran and Washington since hostilities erupted in February after coordinated American and Israeli strikes. Sheikh Mohammed confirmed on social media that the discussions focused positively on brokering an agreement to secure regional peace.

Trump indicated that while he sees no current incentive to intensify the fighting, an official conclusion to the war has not been announced due to ongoing security concerns for regional partners. Neighboring nations including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have experienced Iranian strikes and widespread aviation disruptions during the conflict. The American president credited the ongoing naval blockade of Iranian harbors with bolstering regional stability and safeguarding allies from potential aggression.

The shift toward de-escalation follows substantial setbacks for the Republican party in recent midterm elections, an outcome that figures including Vice President Vance linked directly to public discontent over the hostilities. Ahead of the vote, the administration had acknowledged carrying out limited strikes on an island located in the Strait of Hormuz. Following the president's latest statements, global crude markets saw further drops, with Brent crude sliding past one percent to $91.50 per barrel and US-traded oil declining to $85.82.

At the same time, the administration is navigating growing political backlash on Capitol Hill regarding its military strategy. Republican Representative Thomas Massie announced plans to compel a vote in the House of Representatives aimed at impeaching Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over the handling of the war. Trump has continued to defend Hegseth, who dismissed the impeachment push as illegitimate. Although the measure faces slim chances under the existing Republican majority, Democratic lawmakers have signaled an intention to target the defense secretary once they assume control of both congressional chambers in January. Iranian representatives, meanwhile, have remained consistently skeptical of earlier American assertions regarding a path to ending the hostilities.