US President Donald Trump has played down the possibility of renewed military conflict with Iran, describing further hostilities as “highly unlikely” ahead of a scheduled meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Speaking to CNN on Sunday, Trump said the United States had already dealt a significant blow to Iran’s military capabilities, although he did not completely rule out further military action if necessary.
“I would if necessary, but we hit them really hard. I hit them so hard. You don’t know how hard I hit them,” he said.
The latest diplomatic development comes amid uncertainty over the future of negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said regional mediation efforts had temporarily slowed following the outcome of the US midterm elections.
Araghchi suggested that the election results had unsettled the international community, adding that mediators would need time to assess the situation before deciding how to proceed.
He also argued that the American public was increasingly tired of prolonged Middle East conflicts, accusing Israel of drawing successive US administrations into what he described as “Forever Wars.”
Trump, meanwhile, has acknowledged that public dissatisfaction with the conflict may have contributed to Republican losses in the midterm elections. However, he maintains that economic pressure and inflation will eventually compel Iran to accept Washington’s demands.
Despite Trump’s reassuring remarks, reports of overnight explosions and an alleged attack on Qeshm Island, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, suggest that tensions in the region remain unresolved.
Do you believe the war between the United States and Iran is truly nearing an end, or is this simply a temporary pause before another escalation?