Trump says renewed US strikes are unlikely after meeting Qatar’s prime minister, but Tehran rejects claims of negotiations and demands Washington accept its conditions…reports Asian Lite News Desk
US President Donald Trump has said the war with Iran is “militarily effectively over” and that a resumption of American strikes is “quite unlikely”, following talks with Qatar’s prime minister at the White House.
Trump said on Monday that there was “positive momentum” towards ending the conflict, but warned that US forces remained ready to resume military action if circumstances changed.
“Iran militarily is effectively over. We’re just keeping it the status quo,” he told reporters after meeting Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Trump said Iran’s military leadership had been “decapitated”, but added that Washington was still seeking a long-term arrangement to ensure Tehran could not develop a nuclear weapon.
In a post on Truth Social following the meeting, Trump said Gulf countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait, preferred the current situation to a renewed military campaign.
“We are seeing positive momentum toward an end to this conflict, and will ensure that America’s interests are at all times protected,” he wrote.
The US president maintained that Washington was “locked and loaded” should developments require further action, but said renewed strikes were unlikely at present.
His comments followed an interview with CNN over the weekend, in which he described a return to fighting as “highly unlikely” if progress continued towards an agreement with Iran.
The remarks suggest a shift towards maintaining military pressure while pursuing a diplomatic settlement. However, Trump did not announce a ceasefire agreement or provide details of any proposed deal.
Qatar seeks progress in talks
Qatar has played a key mediating role in efforts to bring Washington and Tehran towards an agreement.
Sheikh Mohammed said he had held positive discussions with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance during his visit to Washington.
“We discussed the situation in the region and ways to progress the US-Iran talks. Grateful for the positive discussions on reaching a deal and bringing peace to the region,” he wrote on X.
The meeting comes amid continued uncertainty over the prospects for negotiations, with the US maintaining its military readiness and pressure on Iran.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. He said the issue remained central to any long-term settlement, although he did not outline the terms Washington was seeking.
Tehran rejects claims of talks
Iran, meanwhile, pushed back against the suggestion that negotiations were making progress.
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused Washington of spreading false information about negotiations and demanded that the US accept Tehran’s conditions.
“Stop manufacturing fake news about imaginary talks,” he wrote on X, adding that it was time for Washington to “surrender to the seven conditions Iran has repeatedly set out”.
His remarks underscored the gap between Washington’s public optimism and Tehran’s stated position. No agreement has been announced, and Iran has not confirmed that a deal is close.
