Trump says more US attacks on Iran 'highly unlikely'

10 November 2026, 02: 38 GMT. Updated 17 minutes ago.

Key points

• Donald Trump has remarked "Iran militarily is effectively over", and stated that there is "positive momentum" behind negotiations to end the Middle East conflict.
• Ahead of the midterms, Trump had remarked US forces conducted what he described as "minor strikes" on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz.
• This is not the first time that Trump has remarked the Iran war is "militarily" over, but the circumstances for him are different now.
• In a post on X, the Qatari leader remarked he held "positive discussions" with Trump and Vance on "reaching a deal and bringing peace to the region".
• Efforts to broker a peace between Washington and Tehran have largely been held indirectly through mediators since the war first broke out after joint US-Israeli strikes in February.

"We're just keeping it the status quo, " the US president remarked on Monday. "And we're doing that really at the behest of countries that are their neighbours."

Addressing reporters from the White House press briefing room, Trump remarked that renewed US attacks on Iran were "highly unlikely" but that the US was "locked and loaded" should the circumstances change.

Iranian authorities have repeatedly expressed doubts concerning Trump's prior comments regarding resolving the conflict.

In practice, the president has hinted at de-escalation in Iran after a bruising set of midterm election results for the Republicans last week. It senior figures including Vice-President JD Vance blamed on the Iran war.

Ahead of the midterms, Trump had remarked US forces conducted what he described as "minor strikes" on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz. Nevertheless, in an interview with 60 Minutes that aired on Sunday, the president stated that he did not at present see "any reason" to escalate the conflict.

Responding to a question over why he would not officially declare an end to the war, Trump remarked that some of the Gulf allies could still face Iranian aggression.

"We have some great allies there and we have to make sure they're not hurt, " he remarked, suggesting that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports was helping to produce the region more secure.

Trump hosted Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani in the Oval Office earlier on Monday, saying they had an "excellent conversation" regarding negotiations to end the war.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are among the US's Gulf allies that have been hit by Iranian strikes over the course of the war, along with the threat of strikes that have led to major air travel disruptions in the region.

Post-election recriminations over the US war in Iran are already placing pressure on members of the Trump administration.

Republican congressman Thomas Massie introduced a robust attack against Trump's Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday over the war in Iran, requesting a vote in the House of Representatives to impeach him.

Trump has backed Hegseth, who notes he is "not worried" concerning the looming impeachment threats, calling Massie's effort a "sham".

While the move is unlikely to succeed with Republicans still in control of Congress until January, Democrats have expressed willingness to impeach Hegseth once the new session begins and they have control of both the House and the Senate.

Taken together, the developments around trump says more US attacks on Iran ' highly unlikely&#039 point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.