Trump says Iran war is 'effectively over' and downplays escalation fears
Speaking at a White House press conference after talks with Qatar's prime minister, US President Donald Trump said the war in Iran is "effectively over" and suggested it could formally end "fairly soon". He played down concerns that Washington would escalate its military campaign against Tehran after the midterm elections, saying Israel and Gulf allies are well protected and that escalation is unnecessary. Fox News, however, reported that Trump has launched "Task Force Iron Gate" to choke off Iran's land-border trade, and experts warned that squeezing Tehran could trigger escalation.
Why it matters Trump's remarks that the war is nearly over coincide with reports of measures to squeeze Iranian trade, leaving the conflict's direction unclear. The developments matter to Gulf states, as the US president spoke of protecting them and made the comments after talks with Qatar's prime minister.
Impeachment charges accuse Defense Secretary Hegseth of illegally starting war with Iran
Impeachment charges against U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accuse him of illegally starting the war with Iran, according to a New York Times explainer. The charges also allege that he directed extrajudicial killings and disregarded laws meant to limit civilian casualties.
Abu Dhabi talks on Ukraine war hinge on territory and security guarantees
Abu Dhabi is hosting talks on ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, with US participation, according to Al Jazeera. Participants in Tuesday's meeting said any settlement must include credible security guarantees for Kyiv and respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, per a statement on the meeting. Disagreements persist over the fate of occupied territory and the guarantees, and it remains unclear whether fighting can stop before a comprehensive deal is reached.
