Trump calls new US strikes on Iran highly unlikely
The US president says Iran is militarily effectively over, while a Republican congressman seeks to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Key points
- Trump says renewed US attacks on Iran are highly unlikely but the US remains ready to act
- He cites positive momentum in negotiations and says Gulf allies must be protected
- Brent crude and US oil prices dipped further after his comments
- Republican congressman Thomas Massie has asked for a House vote to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth
US President Donald Trump has stated that Iran is militarily effectively over, and he believes further American attacks on the country are highly unlikely. He made these remarks to journalists on Monday from the White House briefing room, according to BBC News.
Trump added that Washington stays locked and loaded in case the situation changes. He described the present approach as keeping things where they are, largely because neighbouring countries of Iran have asked for it.
Read also: Incoming House Democrat backs impeaching Pentagon chief Hegseth
Talks and the Gulf region
On Monday Trump welcomed Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, the Qatari prime minister, to the Oval Office. Trump called the talk a strong exchange about ending the war.
The Qatari leader later wrote on X that his discussions with Trump and Vance were constructive and focused on a path to a settlement and lasting stability in the region.
Washington and Tehran have communicated mostly through mediators rather than face to face, a pattern that has existed since the conflict started with joint US and Israeli strikes in February. Iranian officials have voiced repeated scepticism about Trump’s earlier suggestions that the fighting was close to resolution.
Several American partners in the Gulf have come under Iranian fire during the conflict. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE are named among them, and the threat of attacks has also disrupted flights across the region.
Shift after the midterm elections
Trump’s remarks come after the Republicans suffered poor results in last week’s midterm elections. Prominent party members, Vice-President JD Vance among them, have placed the blame for those losses on the war with Iran, according to BBC News.
Before the vote, Trump had claimed American forces carried out limited operations against an Iranian island near the Strait of Hormuz. On Sunday, in a televised sit-down with 60 Minutes, he said he currently saw no justification for escalation.
When asked why he would not formally end the war, he replied that some Gulf partners could still be targeted by Iran. Trump also argued that the American naval blockade of Iranian ports is making the area safer.
Oil prices, which have dropped considerably since the election, slipped again after his statements. On Tuesday afternoon Asian time, Brent crude stood at $91.50 (£52), more than 1% lower on the day, while the US benchmark fell 1.2% to $85.82.
Pressure on the Defence Secretary
The fallout from the conflict is now reaching members of the administration. On Monday, Republican Thomas Massie sharply criticised Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war and proposed that the House hold a vote on impeaching him.
Trump has stood by Hegseth, who states he is not anxious about the impeachment push. Trump labelled Massie’s initiative a sham.
The effort is not expected to pass while Republicans hold Congress until January. Democrats have indicated they would be ready to impeach Hegseth when the new session starts, since they expect to hold both chambers then.
Related: White House denies Hegseth and Rubio are set to leave their posts
Frequently asked questions
What did Trump say about further attacks on Iran?
Trump said a renewed US attack on Iran was highly unlikely, while adding that Washington stays ready to act if conditions shift. He also said Iran is militarily effectively over.
Why is Thomas Massie seeking to impeach Pete Hegseth?
Massie criticised Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding the conflict and asked the House to vote on impeaching him. Trump has backed Hegseth and called the effort a sham.
Will the impeachment effort against Hegseth succeed?
The move is unlikely to succeed while Republicans still control Congress until January. Democrats have said they are willing to impeach Hegseth once the new session begins.
Sources
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