Iran war effectively over, Trump says; Tehran scoffs

The Iran war is "effectively over" in military terms, US President Donald Trump said on Monday, 9 November, but he added that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports will stay in place and he would not promise a lasting ceasefire. Iranian officials rejected his remarks as fake news, Al Jazeera reported.

Mr Trump spoke at a surprise White House briefing shortly after he and Vice President JD Vance met Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, to discuss the conflict.

What Trump said about the Iran war

Mr Trump told reporters that efforts to end the fighting were gaining momentum and that more military action might not be needed. He said the US was still "locked and loaded" in case anything changed, and repeated his claim that the US had destroyed Iran's military.

He said the conflict was, militarily, effectively over, but that Washington would keep the "status quo". According to Al Jazeera, he described that status quo as:

• Continuing the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
• Running the newly announced Task Force Iron Gate, which aims to cut Iran's trade by land and across the Caspian Sea.
• Keeping forces ready to act if the situation shifts.

Mr Trump said Gulf states including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait preferred things to stay as they are. Asked why he did not simply declare the war over, he said a long-term solution was needed and that US allies in the region would be hurt otherwise. He also said: "I don't guarantee anything."

After the meeting, the Qatari prime minister posted on X that the two sides had discussed ways to move US-Iran talks forward and that he was grateful for positive discussions on reaching a deal. He reportedly brought a two-day framework from Iran for ending the war. Earlier rounds of talks have struggled, as we reported when Iran-US talks ended with no breakthrough.

Tehran rejects the claims

Iranian officials were quick to dismiss the comments. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, wrote on social media that Washington was acting like a desperate gambler and told it to stop making up "fake news about imaginary talks".

President Masoud Pezeshkian said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had called for an end to what he described as a state of "neither war nor peace". Mr Pezeshkian said, according to Iranian media, that Iran was open to more negotiations but would not give in to force or bullying.

Iran has set out seven conditions for ending the war. Among them are lifting the naval blockade, compensation for war damage, an end to sanctions and a halt to fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon and Gaza.

How the conflict has spread

The US-Israel war on Iran began on 28 February. Soon after, Iran moved to close the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil, gas and fertiliser. It also fired missiles and drones at Gulf neighbours such as Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE, often aiming at US military bases. Iran's missile programme has remained central to the dispute, as covered in our report on the missile limit being lifted.

Related fighting has followed. Saudi Arabia has renewed its fight with the Iran-backed Houthis, and Israel has occupied southern Lebanon and carried out deadly air strikes. In recent weeks US attacks have become more sporadic, with the administration announcing "minor strikes" on Iran's Qeshm Island and offering a 20-million-dollar reward for information on Iran's nuclear programme.

Iran says its uranium enrichment is for civilian energy and denies seeking a nuclear weapon.

Why it matters in Thailand

Thailand imports most of the crude oil it uses, so disruption to Gulf shipping and the Strait of Hormuz matters for fuel and transport costs here. Any real end to the fighting, or a reopening of normal trade through the Gulf, could ease those pressures. For now, the blockade and Iran's rejection mean little has changed on the ground. The comments also come as Mr Trump faces pressure at home after the midterm elections.

Read the original report from Al Jazeera.

Image: The US aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower passes through the Strait of Hormuz in 2016, a waterway at the heart of the Iran war. US Navy photo via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.