Trump cites 38 identified targets as he says Iran war is over in practice

President Donald Trump declared on Monday that the military conflict with Iran has effectively concluded, a statement that signals a pause in the bombing campaign that has disrupted global energy markets. Speaking to reporters after a surprise meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Trump stated that the war is "over in the practical sense" from a military standpoint.

The president described the Islamic Republic as "decapitated" but noted that Washington is still seeking a long-term solution to neutralize Iran's nuclear program. He asserted that the United States is currently maintaining the status quo rather than intensifying hostilities. This stance follows the recent midterm elections, where the Republican Party lost control of both chambers of Congress to the Democrats. The electoral defeat was driven largely by voter dissatisfaction with the eight-month conflict launched by the United States and Israel, which has driven up fuel prices and impacted nearly every sector of the global economy.

Trump’s remarks represent a shift from his previous posture, where he repeatedly threatened to order a surge in attacks if Iranian leaders did not quickly accept U.S. terms. In social media posts prior to his press conference, he claimed that U.S. allies in the Middle East, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait, prefer the current status quo. During his conversation with the press, he described a "positive momentum" and a "good possibility" that the war could end.

However, the White House did not indicate that the thousands of U.S. soldiers deployed to waters off Iran would be withdrawn. These forces maintain a naval blockade designed to stop the flow of Iranian oil to the world market. Trump described this as the "largest military blockade in history" and confirmed it is being maintained. He said that military action does not seem "very necessary" at the moment, but the U.S. remains prepared to act if circumstances change.

According to two government officials familiar with the matter, Qatari officials presented proposals regarding Iran's nuclear program last week. The White House declined to comment on the details, though Trump had previously alluded to ongoing indirect talks with Tehran. Iranian officials continue to demand several concessions before formal negotiations begin. These demands include ending the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, lifting sanctions, unfreezing assets, providing war damage compensation, and halting hostilities across the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has faced criticism for the conflict's execution, stated on Monday that the next steps depend on the president. He suggested the U.S. might tell Iran to stop moving its nuclear material. Hegseth is one of the war's most prominent defenders within the government, despite critics arguing the war was launched without proper authorization and violated the War Powers Resolution.

On Monday, Republican Representative Thomas Massie initiated a process to force a vote on impeaching Hegseth, largely over his handling of the war. In a Sunday phone interview with CNN, Trump said it was "very unlikely" that attacks would resume if the U.S. sees progress and Iran signs a "solid deal." He revealed that the U.S. has identified 38 infrastructure targets, including bridges, that would be struck if military operations restart.

Limited strikes have continued despite the diplomatic push. The U.S. military attacked Iranian air defenses at least twice in the past week. On Saturday, U.S. forces fired on a commercial vessel, leaving it incapacitated. The United States claims the ship was attempting to break the blockade on Iranian ports.