United States President Donald Trump has described a renewed military confrontation with Iran as “highly unlikely”, raising hopes for a possible diplomatic resolution to the conflict, although he warned that further military action remains an option if negotiations fail.
Trump made the remarks during a telephone interview with CNN on Sunday, ahead of a scheduled meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, at the White House on Monday.
The US president said the likelihood of fresh attacks would depend largely on whether Tehran agreed to what he described as a strong agreement with Washington.
“It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement. The answer is, highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary,” Trump said.
However, he maintained that the United States was prepared to resume military action if necessary, boasting that American strikes had already inflicted significant damage on Iran.
Trump’s comments come amid continuing diplomatic efforts by Qatar and other regional countries to secure an agreement that would end the conflict and address longstanding disagreements over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Qatar has played a central role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, conveying proposals and attempting to bridge differences between the two countries.
The meeting with Sheikh Mohammed is expected to focus on the diplomatic efforts, including prospects for a ceasefire and the resumption of nuclear negotiations.
Trump’s remarks came despite warnings from his administration that negotiations had made limited progress.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that a diplomatic breakthrough was not imminent, describing some of Iran’s demands as unacceptable and unrealistic.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested that diplomatic discussions had slowed following the outcome of the recent US midterm elections.
Speaking on Iranian state television, Araghchi said there had been no recent movement by mediators and that Tehran was assessing the political implications of the election results before determining how to proceed.
He also maintained that Iran was waiting for Washington’s response to its latest proposal.
Despite expressing optimism about the possibility of avoiding another major military confrontation, Trump warned that the United States had identified additional targets in Iran should fighting resume.
He specifically mentioned 38 bridges that the American military could destroy within a short period.
The conflict, which began with US-Israeli strikes against Iran in late February 2026, has had significant consequences for regional security and global energy supplies, particularly because of disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route for international oil and gas exports.
Although large-scale fighting has largely subsided, tensions remain high, with the United States maintaining a naval blockade of Iranian ports and Iran continuing efforts to restrict movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
Reports of attacks involving commercial vessels have also raised concerns about the safety of international shipping.
The war has equally become a major political issue in the United States, with Trump acknowledging that the conflict and rising fuel prices contributed to his Republican Party’s poor performance in the midterm elections.
The planned meeting with Qatar’s prime minister is therefore seen as an important diplomatic engagement as regional mediators seek to prevent a return to full-scale hostilities.
However, with Washington and Tehran still divided over sanctions, frozen Iranian assets, compensation for war damage and nuclear restrictions, the prospects for a comprehensive agreement remain uncertain.