Trump holds off fresh Iran strikes but keeps Strait of Hormuz blockade

US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington will refrain from launching further military strikes against Iran for the time being, following appeals from Gulf countries seeking to prevent another escalation in the conflict.

However, the United States intends to maintain its naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, while senior American and Gulf officials remain doubtful that an agreement to end the war can be reached soon.

Trump outlined his position on Monday (November 9) after meeting Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani at the White House.

Speaking to Reuters and later addressing reporters, Trump indicated that the US military remained prepared to resume operations if necessary, although he did not currently expect further strikes to be required.

He described American forces as "fully locked and loaded" but attributed his decision to exercise restraint to requests from neighbouring countries.

Trump specifically identified Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait among the governments that preferred Washington to avoid further military action.

The latest diplomatic efforts come more than eight months after the United States and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran on February 28.

Although Trump has played down the possibility of another major escalation, Washington has not accepted Tehran's existing proposal for ending the conflict.

Qatar continues efforts to broker peace

Al-Thani travelled to Washington after visiting Tehran the previous week as part of Qatar's continuing mediation between the United States and Iran.

Qatar has served as an important intermediary since the early stages of the war, communicating proposals between the two sides and attempting to narrow their differences.

The Qatari leader described his discussions with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance positively, expressing appreciation on social media for the opportunity to explore a settlement and restore regional peace.

Vance previously led negotiations that resulted in a brief truce in June.

Despite the renewed diplomatic activity, substantial differences remain between Washington and Tehran over the conditions for ending the fighting.

Iran's proposal calls for the United States to end its blockade of Iranian ports, remove certain sanctions and halt air strikes.

In exchange, Tehran would end its own restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Negotiations concerning Iran's nuclear programme and additional sanctions would follow at a later stage.

Washington has repeatedly rejected these terms.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticised the Iranian conditions on Sunday as unreasonable and unrealistic, while indicating that a diplomatic breakthrough was unlikely in the immediate future.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei defended Tehran's proposal on Monday, maintaining that it offered the most reasonable basis for reaching an agreement.

Meanwhile, Iranian security council chief Mohsen Rezaei challenged American accounts of the diplomatic process.

In a social media statement, Rezaei accused Washington of spreading claims about "imaginary talks" and insisted that the United States accept the seven conditions repeatedly presented by Iran.

Gulf officials express doubts over a settlement

Senior officials in the Gulf have also expressed reservations about the prospects for an early agreement.

Anwar Gargash, a senior official from the United Arab Emirates, indicated that reaching a comprehensive political settlement between Washington and Tehran would be difficult.

He cautioned that the region could face a prolonged period without a decisive outcome or a dependable security arrangement.

The pressure to find a diplomatic solution has also intensified within the United States following the previous week's midterm elections.

Several senior Republicans, including Vance, have linked the party's electoral setbacks to public dissatisfaction with the Iran war.

Nevertheless, Rubio has maintained that the current negotiations are unlikely to produce an immediate breakthrough.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has also appealed for restraint, revealing that he had told Trump Ankara opposed another escalation.

Erdogan emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomatic negotiations, while expressing concern that developments were moving in an increasingly negative direction.

Military operations and shipping attacks continue

Despite the diplomatic discussions, fighting has continued in the Gulf region.

Iranian state media reported that US forces carried out strikes against Qeshm island overnight on Sunday.

A provincial official subsequently told Iran's semi-official Fars news agency that the attacks had not disrupted essential infrastructure or public services.

The United States had not commented on the reported strikes.

A senior Iranian source told Reuters that American operations were directed at radar installations used for air defence and maritime navigation, alongside facilities associated with missile launches and naval mine deployment.

Maritime security also remains a significant concern.

Attacks on commercial tankers in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz increased sharply in October and have continued at their highest frequency since the conflict began, according to figures from international maritime organisations.

Iranian authorities reported on Sunday that a tanker had struck a mine east of the Strait of Hormuz.

An Iranian state television reporter subsequently claimed that 11 tankers had been rendered inoperable over the preceding 10 days.

Iran generally does not acknowledge responsibility for attacks on vessels reporting damage from projectiles.

Elsewhere in the region, Yemen's Houthi movement, which is allied with Tehran, has carried out attacks against Saudi Arabia.

The continuing hostilities highlight the difficulties facing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

For now, Trump's decision to hold back further strikes offers the possibility of reducing immediate military tensions, but the competing naval restrictions, unresolved peace conditions and continuing attacks leave the prospects for a lasting settlement uncertain.

Source: Reuters