Trump cites ‘positive momentum’ on Iran after White House meeting with Qatar PM

US President Donald Trump expressed yesterday that there was "positive momentum" towards ending the war with Iran after meeting Qatar's prime minister at the White House. During his conversation with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Trump highlighted that "much was discussed with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran."

The meeting with the Qatari prime minister, a key mediator in the Iran war, marks Trump's first interaction with a foreign leader following his party's significant losses in the midterm elections.

Earlier this year, there were widespread speculations that US strikes against Iran would resume soon after the midterm elections. However, Trump has consistently downplayed the idea of resuming the conflict while keeping the door open for further strikes. In his recent post, Trump reiterated that the US was "locked and loaded," but believed further strikes were "quite unlikely" given that key US allies in the Gulf preferred maintaining the status quo.

"Much of the positive momentum is towards an end to this conflict, and we will ensure that America's interests are always protected," Trump stated.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials have remained defiant in the face of continued pressure from Washington. Mohsen Rezai, the Islamic republic's top security chief, called out the US, saying it was "flailing like a desperate gambler," urging Washington to "fold your hand. Stop manufacturing fake news about imaginary talks." Mahammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's top negotiator, accused Israel of pushing the US deeper into conflict, warning that unless Washington dropped the "Israel First" mindset, America and its allies would be headed toward a "dark age."

On the ground in Iran, strikes are continuing, although the US military has not publicly acknowledged them. The island of Qeshm, located in the Strait of Hormuz, was reportedly targeted overnight, according to Iranian authorities. Trump has acknowledged that the unpopular war with Iran was partially responsible for the Republican party's defeat, partly due to its contribution to rising prices in the US economy.