The president signalled that renewed bombardment is unlikely for now, although U.S. forces remain in place and no peace agreement has been announced
Thunder Bay ON – International News Service — President Donald Trump said Monday that the war with Iran is militarily “effectively over,” his clearest indication yet that the United States may not resume large-scale attacks on the country.
Trump spoke after meeting Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, whose government has been involved in indirect diplomacy between Washington and Tehran. The president said military action no longer appeared necessary and described the negotiations as having positive momentum.
His comments did not amount to a ceasefire or peace agreement. Trump said the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue, and he gave no indication that thousands of American military personnel deployed near Iran would be withdrawn.
The blockade is intended to restrict Iranian oil shipments. It remains one of Tehran’s central objections to negotiations, along with U.S. sanctions, frozen Iranian assets, demands for compensation and continuing Israeli operations in Lebanon.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei warned Monday of serious consequences if U.S. attacks resumed. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, also rejected the American portrayal of the conflict’s outcome.
Trump said the United States remained ready to strike if circumstances changed. U.S. forces have conducted limited attacks against Iranian air defences at least twice in the past week and disabled a commercial vessel Saturday after accusing it of trying to breach the blockade.
The eight-month conflict has disrupted energy supplies and pushed up fuel costs internationally. It has also generated a domestic political backlash in the United States. Trump’s Republican Party lost both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections amid broad voter dissatisfaction with the war.
Qatari officials reportedly presented new proposals concerning Iran’s nuclear program last week. The White House has not disclosed their terms, and the two governments remain far apart on the conditions for formal negotiations.
