US President Donald Trump says further attacks on Iran are highly unlikely as Washington pursues negotiations, but American forces remain ready to respond if the situation changes unexpectedly
Webdesk Zunaira Fatima
US President Donald Trump has said renewed American attacks on Iran are “highly unlikely”, while maintaining that US forces are prepared to respond if the situation changes. His remarks came as Washington signalled what he described as positive momentum in efforts to end the conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said Iran was “militarily” effectively over and that the United States was maintaining the current position partly at the request of neighbouring countries. He said there was no immediate need for further strikes, but added that American forces remained “locked and loaded” if developments required action.
Trump’s comments followed a meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani in the Oval Office. The two leaders discussed efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict. Qatar has been involved in diplomatic efforts, and its prime minister later said he had held positive discussions with Trump and Vice-President JD Vance about reaching an agreement and bringing peace to the region.
The US president also referred to concerns about the security of Gulf allies, including countries that have faced Iranian strikes. He said Washington wanted to ensure those allies were protected and suggested that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports was helping maintain regional security. Trump did not formally declare the war over and said the United States would remain prepared if circumstances changed.
Iranian officials have repeatedly expressed doubts about Trump’s earlier statements regarding the possibility of resolving the conflict. Peace efforts between Washington and Tehran have largely taken place indirectly through mediators since the war began in February after joint US-Israeli strikes.
The remarks came after recent US midterm election results increased political pressure on the administration over the war. Vice-President JD Vance and other senior figures have been among those linking the conflict to the Republicans’ difficult election outcome. Trump had also said in a recent interview that he saw no current reason to escalate the fighting.
Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has sought a House vote to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over his handling of the war. Trump has defended Hegseth and dismissed the effort.
Although Trump described further attacks as highly unlikely, his comments indicate that military action has not been ruled out entirely. The course of negotiations and developments involving Iran and regional allies remain central to whether the conflict moves towards a settlement.
