Washington, United States — President Donald Trump says he will hold off on launching further major military strikes against Iran for the time being, following appeals from Qatar and other Gulf countries seeking to prevent another escalation in the conflict. However, Washington intends to maintain its naval blockade against Iranian shipping, leaving a significant source of tension unresolved as diplomatic efforts continue.

Trump made the comments on Monday, November 9, in an interview with Reuters and later during an appearance in the White House press briefing room. He said he was responding to requests from regional countries, specifically naming Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait as governments that prefer the United States not to launch new attacks.

The announcement followed a meeting with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, whose government has played a central intermediary role between Washington and Tehran. The development offers a temporary opening for diplomacy, but officials on both sides have signalled that major disagreements remain. Reuters reported that prospects for an immediate comprehensive agreement remain uncertain.

Trump Says New Strikes Are Not Immediately Planned

Trump said the United States was prepared to use its military capabilities if circumstances changed, but suggested that further attacks were not necessary at this stage. In his remarks, he said Washington was acting at the request of neighbouring countries that want a peaceful outcome.

In a separate interview with Reuters, Trump said Qatar and Saudi Arabia wanted a peaceful solution, while warning that US forces remained ready to resume strikes if necessary. His comments indicate that the administration is maintaining military pressure while allowing regional diplomatic efforts more time.

The Associated Press reported that Trump described the conflict as militarily “effectively over” while saying the United States would maintain the existing posture and continue seeking an arrangement that prevents Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. That description reflects Trump’s assessment and does not mean a formal peace agreement or a verified end to hostilities has been reached.

Qatar Steps Up Its Mediation Efforts

Qatar has emerged as an important communication channel between the United States and Iran during the conflict. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani met Trump at the White House after visiting Tehran the previous week, as Doha sought to narrow differences over the terms of a possible settlement.

Following the meeting, the Qatari prime minister described the discussions as positive and expressed appreciation for efforts aimed at reaching an agreement and bringing peace to the region. He also met Vice President JD Vance, who has been involved in the administration’s diplomatic approach.

Reuters reported that Qatar has been conveying proposals and trying to bridge disagreements involving Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions, the blockade and the conditions for ending the conflict. However, no final agreement was announced after the White House meeting.

US Naval Blockade Remains A Major Point Of Disagreement

Although Trump has indicated that further major strikes will be held back for now, he has not agreed to lift the US naval blockade affecting Iranian ports and maritime trade. The continued blockade remains a central point of pressure on Tehran and one of the main obstacles in negotiations.

Iran has demanded an end to the blockade, sanctions relief and a halt to US bombing as part of its proposed path towards ending the war. Tehran has also linked progress to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and has called for broader discussions on nuclear issues and sanctions to follow.

Washington has rejected key parts of Iran’s proposal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that Tehran’s conditions were unrealistic, while Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei defended the proposal as a reasonable basis for negotiations.

The disagreement is significant because the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. Disruption to commercial traffic in the Gulf can affect oil and gas supplies, shipping costs and energy prices well beyond the Middle East.

Map showing the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman at the entrance to the Persian Gulf.
Map of the Strait of Hormuz. By Goran_tek-en, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Military Tensions Have Not Disappeared

Trump’s decision to hold off on new major strikes does not amount to a ceasefire. Reuters reported that military incidents continued, including reported US strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island and attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media reported the strikes on Qeshm, while a local official said vital infrastructure and services were not affected. The United States had not publicly confirmed the details of those reported strikes at the time of the Reuters report.

Shipping security remains another major concern. Reports of attacks and incidents involving tankers have increased pressure on governments and maritime operators to assess risks to vessels moving through the Gulf. The Associated Press also reported that US forces had recently disabled a commercial ship accused by Washington of attempting to breach the blockade.

Iran Rejects US Characterisation Of Negotiations

Iranian officials have pushed back against suggestions that an agreement is close. Mohsen Rezaei, an Iranian security official, criticised US statements about negotiations and insisted that Washington should accept Tehran’s stated conditions.

Iran’s position includes demands for the removal of the blockade, sanctions relief and an end to attacks. The United States, meanwhile, continues to insist that any durable agreement must address Iran’s nuclear programme and prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

The opposing positions leave substantial questions unresolved, including the sequencing of sanctions relief, the future of maritime restrictions, nuclear inspections and the security arrangements that would accompany an end to hostilities.

Gulf Governments Warn Against A Wider Regional War

Qatar is not alone in urging restraint. Trump also named Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait among the countries that would prefer Washington to avoid further attacks. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also urged dialogue, saying Ankara does not want to see another escalation.

Regional governments face potential consequences from a prolonged conflict, including threats to shipping, energy infrastructure, trade and civilian security. A wider confrontation could also draw additional actors into the crisis and complicate efforts to restore normal maritime traffic.

Senior UAE official Anwar Gargash has cautioned that a comprehensive political settlement may be difficult and warned that the region should prepare for a period of uncertainty. His remarks reflect the concerns of Gulf officials even as diplomatic contacts continue.

Oil Markets Watch For Signs Of De-Escalation

The prospect of fewer US strikes has also influenced energy market sentiment. Reuters reported that oil prices fell after Trump’s comments eased some concerns about prolonged disruption to Middle Eastern supplies, although shipping risks and the continued blockade remain important uncertainties.

Any sustained improvement in the security situation around the Strait of Hormuz could help reduce pressure on energy markets. However, traders and governments will continue monitoring military incidents, tanker movements, the status of the blockade and the progress of diplomatic negotiations.

What Happens Next?

The immediate question is whether Qatar and other regional mediators can turn the current pause in major strikes into a negotiated process. Potential areas for discussion include the reopening of maritime routes, the future of sanctions, nuclear monitoring, security guarantees and a timetable for ending military operations.

For now, Trump’s announcement represents a decision to hold back from further major attacks, not a declaration that the conflict has ended. The US blockade remains in place, Iran has not accepted Washington’s conditions, and reports of military incidents continue.

The coming days will therefore be important for determining whether regional diplomacy can produce a practical framework for de-escalation or whether the unresolved disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions and maritime restrictions will keep the region on edge.

Sources And Further Reading

Image credit: Official White House photograph by Shealah Craighead, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain as a work of the US federal government. The image shows an earlier meeting between Donald Trump and Qatar’s Emir in 2017 and is used for illustration; it is not a photograph of the November 9, 2026 White House meeting.