Trump said the war is effectively over.

WASHINGTON — The Associated Press reported Monday that President Trump told reporters the war in Iran “militarily is effectively over.” “Iran militarily is effectively over,” Trump said. “We’re just keeping it the status quo.” Trump said Iran has been “decapitated,” and is still looking for a long-term way to see that the nuclear program is defanged. Trump made a surprise visit to the James Brady Press Briefing Room after meeting Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, prime minister of Qatar.

Trump said there was “positive momentum” and a “good chance” the war “could get ended.” “They’re talking to us, and they’re talking very politely, And we’ll see what happens,” Trump said. “The military action doesn’t seem to be a very necessary thing, but we’re locked and loaded, ready to go for any reason that changes.” Trump said, “We’re keeping it going. We have the greatest military blockade ever.” The AP said Trump gave no hint of drawing down the blockade. Trump’s party lost both chambers of Congress last week. The AP said dissatisfaction over the 8-month-old war, and a surge in fuel prices, shadowed that election. Trump said the United States had identified infrastructure targets, including 38 bridges, if military action resumes. The AP said the U.S. military carried out limited strikes on Iran, including on air defenses, at least twice over the past week, and on Saturday fired on and disabled a commercial ship that the U.S. says was trying to breach the blockade.

Iran militarily is effectively over.

Earlier Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the next steps are up to Trump, including the possibility of telling Iran: “Hey, we’re done, and we’re going to watch your nuclear material. You better not move it.” Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky moved Monday to force a vote to impeach Hegseth, largely over Hegseth’s execution of the war. This desk does not add a charge the AP story does not print. Two Middle East government officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP that Qatar presented proposals on Iran’s nuclear program last week. The White House declined to comment. On Sunday, in a phone interview with CNN, as the AP reported it, Trump said that if the United States sees progress and the Iranians sign a “strong agreement,” it is “highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary” to resume strikes.