U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed strong skepticism about resuming military action against Iran, describing a renewed conflict as “highly unlikely” during a telephone interview with CNN on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
His statement comes just ahead of a pivotal bilateral meeting scheduled for Monday, November 9, 2026, at the White House with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is acting as a key regional mediator between Washington and Tehran.
The president clarified that while he believes further strikes will not be necessary due to severe economic and military pressure on Iran, any final decision hinges on whether Iranian leaders agree to sign a rigorous diplomatic deal.
“It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump stated during the interview, emphasizing that U.S. and Israeli operations had already drastically degraded Tehran’s infrastructure and defense capabilities.
Trump argued that crippling economic strain, citing extreme internal inflation figures, and targeted strikes had left Tehran with limited operational capacity, though he warned that the United States maintains a heavy naval presence in the region and remains prepared to act if negotiations collapse.
Diplomatic efforts are now concentrated on the White House talks in Washington, D.C., where Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is pushing to secure additional time for Qatari mediation to produce a durable ceasefire and de-escalate tensions around vital trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded firmly to Washington’s posture in public statements on Monday, criticising U.S. foreign policy on social media and warning that while Tehran remains open to diplomatic solutions under specific conditions, its military stands fully prepared to respond if Washington chooses renewed escalation over a negotiated settlement.
