Trump Signals Possible End to Iran War, Says US Is ‘Locked and Loaded’ for Fresh Strikes

US President Donald Trump has indicated that efforts to end the conflict with Iran are gaining momentum, while insisting that American forces remain ready to resume military operations if circumstances demand it.

Speaking on Monday, Trump declared that Iran was “militarily, is effectively over,” but stressed that the United States had not completely ruled out launching additional strikes.

His comments followed a White House meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, whose country has emerged as an important mediator in the Iran conflict.

The meeting was particularly significant as it represented Trump’s first engagement with a foreign leader since his Republican Party suffered a major setback in the midterm elections.

After the discussions, Trump took to Truth Social to describe the meeting as “an excellent conversation,” revealing that “much was discussed with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

There had been considerable speculation in the weeks before the midterm elections that Washington might restart its military campaign against Iran shortly after the polls.

Trump, however, has continued to discourage expectations of an immediate return to hostilities, even as he maintains the possibility of fresh attacks.

During Monday’s White House press briefing, he told reporters: “Iran, militarily, is effectively over. We’re just keeping it the status quo.”

The US president added: “But if we do have to go back in, we are locked and loaded, and ready to go.”

Trump subsequently suggested that further American strikes were “quite unlikely,” arguing that key US allies in the Gulf would prefer the current situation to continue.

“We are seeing positive momentum toward an end to this Conflict, and will ensure that America’s interests are at all times protected,” he wrote.

Tehran rejects reports of possible talks

Despite Trump’s optimism, Iranian officials continued to challenge Washington’s position and reject suggestions of diplomatic progress.

Mohsen Rezai, Iran’s top security official, launched a fresh attack on the United States in a late Monday post on X.

Accusing Washington of acting like a desperate gambler, Rezai said the US “flails like a desperate gambler.”

He further warned the American government to “fold your hand. Stop manufacturing fake news about imaginary talks.”

Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, had earlier accused Israel of pushing the United States further into the conflict.

In his post on X, Ghalibaf cautioned that “unless Washington drops the ‘Israel First’ mindset, America and its allies are headed straight for a dark age.”

On the battlefield, Iranian authorities reported that attacks were still taking place across the country, although the US military had not publicly accepted responsibility for the reported strikes.

Qeshm Island, situated in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, was reportedly hit overnight from Sunday into Monday, according to the provincial deputy governor, who disclosed the incident on state television.

Trump has also admitted that the unpopular war with Iran played a role in the Republicans’ disappointing performance in the midterm elections.

The conflict has placed additional pressure on the US economy by contributing to rising prices, further aggravating concerns among American voters.

Africans Angle News