Trump Says Iran War Is Militarily 'Effectively Over,' Vows to Keep Naval Blockade and Iron Gate in Place
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters in an impromptu appearance in the White House briefing room on November 9 after meeting Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran is militarily 'effectively over.' He said Iran, militarily, is effectively finished, and that the United States is just keeping the status quo.
Trump said the status quo means continuing the naval blockade of Iranian ports and the newly established Task Force Iron Gate operation, which seeks to cut off Iran by land and through the Caspian Sea. He described the naval blockade as one of the greatest in American history and said the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed, but closed to Iran.
Asked about further military action, Trump said it did not seem very necessary, but that U.S. forces are locked and loaded and ready to go if the situation changes. He said there was positive momentum toward ending the conflict. He did not, however, announce any ceasefire agreement or commit to a long-term halt in fighting.
The war began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. Qatar has been mediating between Washington and Tehran, and Iran recently conveyed a two-day proposal to restart negotiations through Qatar. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on November 8 that talks with Iran had made little progress and that Iran's demands were unacceptable. In a social media post on November 9, Trump said Gulf states including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait preferred to maintain the status quo and continue the blockade.
Related: Trump, in Call With Qatari PM, Says Gulf States Prefer Keeping Blockade on Iran
(Source: Associated Press)
Source: Associated Press
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：特朗普与国家安全团队在白宫战情室开会（白宫官方照片，资料图）。公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons，本站档案图复用。 / Photo: President Trump and his national security team meet in the Situation Room of the White House (White House photo, file photo). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; GSM archive reuse.
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