President Donald Trump declared Monday that the U.S.-Israel war against Iran is militarily effectively over, following a closed-door meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the White House.

In a surprise press briefing, Trump stated that Iran's military capabilities have been dismantled. "Iran militarily is effectively over," he said. "We're just keeping it the status quo." He added that the conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes in February, had achieved its core objectives of neutralizing Iran's nuclear ambitions and military threat.

Trump emphasized that Gulf allies including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE prefer maintaining the current naval blockade and sanctions rather than renewed large-scale strikes. He described the blockade as potentially the greatest in history and noted that Israel and the broader Middle East are now protected from Iranian dangers. The president said he sees positive momentum toward a formal end to the conflict fairly soon but warned that U.S. forces remain "locked and loaded" should circumstances change.

The remarks come days after Republicans suffered losses in the midterm elections and amid speculation about potential escalation. Trump defended the eight-month campaign, noting Iran's military has been "decapitated," with its navy and air force largely destroyed and manufacturing capacity severely reduced. He also addressed ongoing diplomatic efforts, including talks aimed at ensuring Iran's nuclear program remains defanged long-term.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who faces an impeachment resolution in the new Congress, received support from the president during the briefing. Trump reiterated that the United States did not initiate the conflict, which he traced back to 1979, but has now positioned American interests and allies in a stronger position.

Iranian officials have pushed back, demanding an end to sanctions and the blockade before further negotiations. Trump indicated that while major military action appears unnecessary at present, the U.S. maintains readiness for any shift in developments.