US President Donald Trump has declared war on Iran “effectively over” and played down concerns about escalating the war.
He said Tuesday at a White House Conference that there was “positive momentum” toward ending the war in Iran.
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His comment came after a meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister and top mediator, Mohammed Al Thani, in the Oval Office.
Mr Trump described the meeting as an “excellent conversation” about negotiations to end the war.
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“We’re just keeping it the status quo. And we’re doing that really at the behest of countries that are their neighbours,” he said.
Mr Trump said that although renewed attacks on Iran were “highly unlikely, the US is “locked and loaded” should the circumstances change.
This is not the first time that Mr Trump has said the Iran war is “militarily” over, but the circumstances for him are different now.
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The president’s Republican Party lost woefully in the midterms last week as voters rejected the party’s candidates in many areas and gave Democrats a sweeping victory.
The win was a sweeping political rebuke of President Trump, who had asked voters to pretend like he was on the ballot.
Republicans lost not only in contested states but also in deep red states and districts that Mr Trump had carried by double digits just two years ago.
Key officials in his administration, including Vice President JD Vance, blamed the Iran war.
Mr Trump himself also admitted that the Iran war influenced the election outcome.
However, in an interview with 60 Minutes that aired on Sunday, the president said that he did not currently see “any reason” to escalate the conflict.
On why he has not officially declared an end to the war, Mr Trump said that some of the Gulf allies could still face Iranian aggression.
READ ALSO: ANALYSIS: What a weakened Trump could mean for Nigeria, other African countries
“We have some great allies there, and we have to make sure they’re not hurt,” he said.
Democratic control of Congress will reshape Mr Trump’s final two years in office and hamstring his legislative agenda.
Post-election recriminations over war in Iran are already placing pressure on members of the administration.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has requested a vote in the House of Representatives to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
But Mr Trump has backed Mr Hegseth, who said he was unbothered by the impeachment threats
He called Mr Massie’s effort a “sham”.
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