Trump Declares War on Iran Effectively Over After Meeting Qatar’s Prime Minister

The update

President Donald Trump said on Monday that the US-Israel war on Iran is “effectively over”, after a closed-door White House meeting with Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and Vice President JD Vance. Trump said there was “positive momentum” toward ending the conflict “fairly soon” and that further military action “doesn’t seem to be a very necessary thing”, while adding US forces remained “locked and loaded”. He said Gulf states including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait preferred the “status quo”, so the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue.

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Why it matters

The war began on February 28 and has run nearly nine months, spilling into Gulf states and disrupting trade through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil, gas and fertiliser. Al Jazeera reported oil prices fell sharply on renewed hopes of talks. Iranian officials dismissed Trump’s remarks as “fake news”, and President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran was open to negotiations but “will not surrender to force and bullying”.

What to watch

Whether talks advance toward a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions and Hormuz shipping, and whether the blockade and intermittent strikes truly stop. Trump has repeatedly predicted an imminent peace deal during the war, so confirmation means an actual agreement or a verified halt in hostilities.

Sources

• theguardian.com — Trump’s briefing remarks and the Qatar talks
• aljazeera.com — the “effectively over” comments, continuing blockade and Iranian rejection

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