U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on November 9, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the war with Iran could end “pretty quickly,” adding that Iran was in “very polite discussions” with the United States.
“We’re seeing momentum toward ending this conflict, and I think it’s going to end pretty soon,” President Trump told reporters at the White House after meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Monday.
“Iran is effectively finished militarily,” Trump said, noting that the destruction of its navy and soaring inflation are hollowing out its economy.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait “prefer to maintain the status quo,” including maintaining a naval blockade against Iran and Operation Iron Gate, announced on Saturday, aimed at preventing Iran from using land routes to transport advanced weapons and other supplies, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
He reiterated that Iran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, leaving the door open to renewed attacks if the situation changes. “The United States is ‘berthed and loaded’ and ready to depart at any time,” he said, but warned that another attack was “extremely unlikely.”
The conflict, now in its ninth month, has caused fuel prices to soar and hit nearly every sector of the global economy.
The United States was reportedly planning a potential naval buildup in the Middle East in the run-up to the midterm elections, and President Trump has signaled the possibility of escalating the conflict after the election results.
The administration toned down its war rhetoric in the wake of disastrous midterm election results, in which voters expressed dissatisfaction with the soaring cost of living caused by the war and Republicans lost both houses of Congress.
A diplomat briefed on the Qatar talks told Axios that Trump told al-Thani that he wanted a deal and would give him a chance to negotiate, but that he could reverse course if Iran was not serious about negotiations.
Reuters reported, citing a senior Iranian official, that Iran, through a Qatari mediator, submitted a two-day proposal to the United States seeking to lift sanctions on Iran and open new shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz. Washington was reportedly considering the proposal.
Iranian officials dispute that talks with the United States are ongoing. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, reportedly said the US government should stop “fabricating fake news about fictitious talks.”
Oil prices fell slightly on Tuesday on expectations of easing tensions, widening the decline from the previous day. West Texas Intermediate It fell more than 1% to $85.8 per barrel, after falling more than 4% in the previous session. brent futures The oil price fell more than 1% to $91.56 per barrel, hovering near a 10-week low.
