While addressing reporters at the White House, US President Donald Trump announced that the war with Iran was ‘effectively over’. He added that there was a ‘positive momentum’ behind negotiations to end the US-Iran conflict.

Though Iranian officials had repeatedly expressed doubts over Trump’s earlier promises on resolving the Middle East war, Trump declared at the press meet that renewed US attacks on Iran were ‘highly unlikely’.

“We’re just keeping it the status quo,” Trump said, adding, “and we’re doing that really at the behest of countries that are their neighbours.”

Previously, he had hinted at de-escalation in Iran but there was no end in sight to the conflict. Now, again, he has said that the US was ‘locked and loaded’ should the circumstances change.

He has confirmed that he does not presently see ‘any reason’ for escalation.

When asked why he would not officially declare an end to the war, Trump said, “We have some great allies there and we have to make sure they’re not hurt,” referring to Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE that could still face the brunt of Iranian attacks.

A day earlier, Trump hosted Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani in the Oval Office. The US president said they both had an ‘excellent conversation’ on negotiations to end the conflict.

The Qatari leader, in a post on X, said he held ‘positive discussions’ with Trump and Vance on ‘reaching a deal and bringing peace to the region’. – editor@nrifocus.com