Trump says war with Iran 'effectively over' after Qatar talks

President Donald Trump said Monday that the war with Iran "militarily is effectively over," signaling a shift away from his previous threat to resume strikes on the country. Trump made the comments during a surprise White House briefing after meeting with Qatar's prime minister, adding that Iran has been "decapitated" but that he seeks a long-term solution to neutralize its nuclear program. He noted "positive momentum" toward ending the eight-month conflict, which has spiked global fuel prices. The announcement follows last week's midterm elections, where Trump's Republican Party lost both congressional chambers to Democrats amid voter dissatisfaction over the war. Trump said the US remains "locked and loaded" but that further strikes are unlikely if negotiations progress, though the military has conducted limited attacks in the past week.