Iran war: Trump says conflict is effectively over, seeks long-term limits on Irans nuclear programme

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the war in Iran, in military terms, was largely finished. Trump spoke after a meeting earlier that day with Qatar’s prime minister. Trump made an unplanned appearance in the White House briefing room. Trump suggested Washington was not seeking new escalation at present.

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"Iran militarily is effectively over,\" Trump said. \"Were just keeping it the status quo.\" Trump also said Iran has been decapitated. Trump added that a long-term outcome still mattered. Trump said the goal was ensuring Iran’s nuclear programme is defanged.

Trump Iran war comments after US midterm elections

Trump’s remarks were among the clearest signs of stepping back from threats of fresh strikes. Trump earlier warned action could resume after the US midterm elections. Trump’s Republican Party lost both chambers of Congress to Democrats. The election period was also shaped by public frustration over the eight-month-old war.

The war has driven fuel prices higher and affected almost every part of the global economy. Trump said there was positive momentum towards ending the war. Trump did not give details on what was driving that shift. Trump indicated the US was weighing diplomacy alongside military pressure.

Trump Iran war strike threat and negotiation conditions

\"The military action doesnt seem to be a very necessary thing, but were locked and loaded, ready to go for any reason that changes,\" Trump said. The statement kept open the option of force. It also suggested the White House saw less need for broad action at this stage.

In a phone interview with CNN on Sunday, Trump linked any pause in strikes to talks. Trump said strikes were unlikely if negotiations kept moving. Trump said that depended on Iran signing what Trump called a strong agreement. Trump also said US planners had selected infrastructure targets if fighting restarted.

Trump said the US had identified 38 bridges among targets for possible strikes. Separately, the U.S. military has continued limited action in recent days. Over the past week, it carried out at least two strikes on Iran’s air defences. The military also acted at sea on Saturday during the blockade.

US forces fired on and disabled a commercial ship on Saturday, according to the US account. The US said the vessel was trying to break the naval blockade on Iranian ports. Trump’s comments pointed to a preference for maintaining the current posture. At the same time, the administration signalled it was prepared to respond.

With inputs from PTI