US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that there is momentum towards ending the war with Iran, declaring that the country is militarily effectively over while warning that further strikes remain possible.
Speaking at a White House press briefing following a meeting with Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Trump stated that the status quo is being maintained but warned that the US is locked and loaded if it needs to return.
Trump posted on Truth Social that they had an excellent conversation regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran, adding that Gulf states preferred the status quo over strikes during what he described as the largest naval blockade in history and the Iron Gate land operation.
Qatar's Prime Minister Al Thani described his meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance as excellent, noting they discussed regional situations and ways to advance negotiations between the United States and Iran.
Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei responded on X by telling Washington to fold its hand and stop manufacturing fake news about imaginary talks, while Tehran's top negotiator Mahammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed Israel was pushing the US deeper into conflict.
Iranian authorities reported that strikes continued overnight from Sunday to Monday on the island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz, though these have not been publicly acknowledged by the US military.
Media outlets citing Turkey's intelligence service chief Ibrahim Kalin reported that Qatar would host a meeting next week between Vance and Rezaei, but Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and a senior security official cited by Tasnim news agency denied any planned talks.
Brent crude futures fell to $92 a barrel on Monday as expectations grew that the conflict could soon end.
Source: Euronews. Read the original report ↗