'Positive momentum' towards end to Iran war, Trump says

There is "positive momentum" towards an end to the Iran war, Donald Trump has said.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US president said America was "locked and loaded" but the need for further strikes "seems to be quite unlikely".

Mr Trump's post came as he staged a news conference at the White House on the same issue.

The Republicans are facing heavy midterm losses, with the Iran war partly blamed for the results.

On Monday, Mr Trump told reporters he believes the war "militarily is effectively over" after meeting with Qatar's prime minister earlier in the day, where the two leaders discussed the US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Iran militarily is effectively over," Mr Trump said. "We're just keeping it the status quo."

Mr Trump added Tehran has been "decapitated" but said he is still looking to make sure there's a long-term solution to ensuring Iran's nuclear programme poses no threat.

In his Truth Social post, Mr Trump said: "Should there be any change with respect to developments in the Middle East, the United States of America is 'locked and loaded' and ready to go.

"At this point, however, that seems to be quite unlikely. Israel, and the entire Middle East, are protected from Iranian danger and threats.

"We are seeing positive momentum toward an end to this Conflict, and will ensure that America's interests are at all times protected."

The president this weekend offered some of his most definitive comments about moving away from his threat to resume strikes on Iran after the midterm elections rout.

Mr Trump told CNN in a phone interview on Sunday that as long as the US sees progress in negotiations with the Iranians and they sign a "strong agreement," it's "highly unlikely it's going to be necessary" to conduct strikes.

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However, the president said the US had identified 38 bridges among infrastructure targets it would strike if military action resumed.

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