US President Donald Trump indicated on Monday, November 9, 2026, that no immediate further military action against Iran is necessary, though the US remains prepared. He made the statement after meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani. Trump also stated that the US is ready at any time.
Gulf nations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Kuwait, have urged the United States not to launch new attacks on Iran.
President Trump stated that the war with Iran is militarily “effectively over,” but noted that the US naval blockade continues. The conflict escalated after the US and Israel began attacks on Iran on February 28, 2026.
Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused the US of spreading “false news” about negotiations and demanded that Tehran’s conditions for ending the conflict be accepted. Iran’s proposal includes ending the blockade of US ports, lifting some sanctions, and halting bombing, in exchange for Tehran stopping its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected Iran’s proposal as “insulting, ridiculous, and unrealistic.” Qatar is mediating between the two sides.
On November 4, 2026, Iran warned that its response could extend beyond US military bases if Gulf countries allowed the US to launch attacks from their territories.
The Strait of Hormuz is experiencing significantly reduced maritime traffic, though it is not completely halted. Recent reports indicate that transit levels are approximately 65% lower than pre-conflict levels.
Background
- The Trump administration had pursued a strategy of maximum pressure to bring Iran to the negotiating table.
- Tensions escalated in 2019 after Iran shot down a US drone and attacked Saudi oil facilities.
- On January 3, 2020, Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike ordered by President Trump, leading to Iranian missile attacks on US bases in Iraq and heightened fears of war.
What happens next
President Trump has expressed a desire for a deal with Iran and is willing to give diplomacy a chance, but warned that the US could change its approach if Tehran does not engage seriously. Qatar is mediating, while the US blockade continues, and CENTCOM's Operation Iron Gate targets Iran's land and Caspian routes.
