Trump says Iran is militarily done, blockade stays
After meeting Qatar's prime minister at the White House, the US president keeps the naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Tehran repeats its seven conditions for talks.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday, November 9, that the war with Iran is practically over militarily, but that Washington is keeping the current situation in place, including the naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iranian officials rejected his words overnight and on the morning of November 10, repeating that there will be no talks until the United States accepts Tehran’s conditions.
What did Trump say after the White House meeting?
The statement followed a closed-door meeting with Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. Vice President JD Vance also attended. Trump then spoke to reporters in the White House briefing room.
“Iran is militarily practically finished,” Trump said. “We are just maintaining the status quo, and actually at the request of the countries that are their neighbors.”
He named Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait as the states that want the current situation preserved. According to Al Jazeera, in practice that means continuing the blockade, which he called the largest naval blockade in his country’s history. He also posted about it on Truth Social, and the Dawn live blog logs the posts at around 3:29 am Pakistan time on November 10.
He did not rule out military action. “Military action does not seem particularly necessary, but we are ready to go if anything changes,” he said. The day before, on Sunday, November 8, he told CNN that new strikes are unlikely if talks make progress, while warning that 38 bridges are on the list of possible targets.
Asked why he does not simply declare the conflict over, Trump answered that he is looking for a long-term solution. Of Tehran he said: “They are talking to us, and politely.”
What did Qatar relay, and what did the Pentagon say?
After the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed said: “I am grateful for the positive talks on reaching an agreement and bringing peace to the region.” Al Jazeera reports that he handed over an Iranian proposal to end the war, while the White House did not immediately comment. Two unnamed Middle East officials said Qatar passed along proposals on Iran’s nuclear program last week.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday that the next phase depends on the president’s decision. He raised the possibility of the US declaring an end to military operations, but with oversight of Iran’s nuclear material. The same day, Congressman Thomas Massie moved to force a vote on impeaching Hegseth over the way he is running the war.
The ground is not quiet. Last week, US forces struck Iranian air defenses at least twice, and on Saturday they fired on a merchant ship and disabled it, claiming it tried to break the blockade. A task force called Iron Gate has also been announced, aimed at cutting Iran’s trade over land and across the Caspian Sea. We previously reported on the strikes on Qeshm island and the burning tanker near Hormuz, but not on this statement.
How did Tehran respond?
The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, dismissed Trump’s remarks about talks: “The war against Iran has already destroyed the American government. But Washington is flailing like a desperate gambler.”
An Iranian security official told state media on Monday evening that there will be no talks with the US until Washington accepts Tehran’s seven conditions. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the same evening that removing enriched uranium from Iran is out of the question.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei wants an end to what he called a state of neither war nor peace, and that Iran is open to further negotiations. He added: “We will not surrender to force and bullying.”
What exactly are Iran’s conditions?
The sources do not list them the same way. Al Jazeera names four of the seven: lifting sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian funds, recognizing a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz agreed with Oman, and ending the war on all fronts, including Israeli attacks on Lebanon. The Indian outlet Sunday Guardian adds an end to the blockade of Iranian ports and compensation for war damage.
How did the war reach this point?
The war began on February 28, 2026, and has lasted nearly nine months. Iran immediately tried to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil, gas and fertilizer, and fired missiles and drones at Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the Emirates, often targeting US military bases. Related conflicts opened up: Saudi Arabia resumed fighting against the Houthis, and Israel occupied southern Lebanon. In recent months the American offensive has become intermittent, with sporadic exchanges of fire.
