Trump says US war in Iran is ‘militarily effectively over', suggests ‘status quo’ to continue

President Donald Trump said on Monday that US military action in Iran is "effectively over," suggesting that the US will is unlikely to take further large-scale military action in Iran. President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House Monday, Nov.

9. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)Trump's comments, which came after a closed-door meeting with Qatar's PM Sheikh Mohammed, are his most decisive since the Trump-led Republican Party suffered a rout in the US midterm elections last week.

“Iran militarily is effectively over,” Trump told reporters at a White House briefing Monday. “We’re just keeping it the status quo.” The US has restricted its operation in Iran to sanctions, a naval blockade and targeted strikes since July 2026.

Trump said that the status quo will remain, seemingly ruling out the possibility of future strikes. Trump did not reveal any details about what was discussed in the meeting with Sheikh Mohammed. But shortly after the talks concluded, Trump gave a brief interview to Reuters, in which he said that the US's allies in the Middle East are urging a peaceful solution.

At the time, Trump had still not ruled out strikes, telling Reuters, "We can go whenever we want." Qatar's Sheikh Mohammed, meanwhile, said in an X post that the meeting with Trump went "great." He wrote: "We discussed the situation in the region and ways to progress the US-Iran talks.

Grateful for the positive discussions on reaching a deal and bringing peace to the region." Moments later, Trump called a sudden White House briefing and announced that the US military action in Iran is "effectively over." He said that there is "positive momentum" in the talks but did not provide details.

“The military action doesn’t seem to be a very necessary thing, but we’re locked and loaded, ready to go for any reason that changes,” the 80-year-old said. Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said in a X post that the US is spreading fake news and alleged that Washington is acting like a “desperate gambler”.

It urged Washington to "surrender" to its seven demands. Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles.

He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure.

Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team.

He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics.

Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More