Donald Trump says the war with Iran is militarily "effectively over", but the US is keeping its naval blockade in place. Speaking at a surprise White House briefing on Monday 9 November, he said "Iran militarily is effectively over", Al Jazeera reports.
The briefing followed his meeting with Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Vice President JD Vance. Trump described US policy as a "status quo" kept at the request of Gulf states. In a White House post quoted by Khaleej Times, he named Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait as preferring "a continuation of the Greatest Naval Blockade in History" alongside Operation Iron Gate.
He also said "we're locked and loaded, ready to go for any reason that changes" and "I think it's going to be ending fairly soon". The Times of Israel reports he said there is a "good chance" of a deal.
Qatar's prime minister posted on social media, "Grateful for the positive discussions on reaching a deal and bringing peace to the region".
Trump's claim fits Al Jazeera's account of a war, now nearly nine months old, in which US operations have become sporadic. But Al Jazeera also reports intermittent exchanges of fire. The blockade Trump is keeping is one Iran has said must be lifted before any move towards peace.