Trump says Iran war 'effectively over' after Qatar meeting

President Donald Trump said Monday that the war in Iran is militarily "effectively over," following a meeting with Qatar's prime minister, while adding that Iran has been "decapitated" and that he seeks a long-term solution to neutralize its nuclear program. Trump made the surprise remarks in the White House briefing room, stating the US is "keeping it the status quo" and that military action "doesn't seem to be a very necessary thing," though he said the US remains "locked and loaded" if conditions change. He noted positive momentum toward ending the conflict without providing details. The comments follow the Republican Party's loss of both congressional chambers in last week's midterm elections, shadowed by voter dissatisfaction over the eight-month war and resulting fuel price surges. The US has still conducted limited strikes on Iran in the past week, including on air defenses and a commercial ship attempting to breach its naval blockade.