WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday told reporters he believes the war in Iran “militarily is effectively over," suggesting that — at least for now — he’s not prepared to resume the bombardment that has devastated the Islamic Republic and caused reverberations across the global economy.
The president made a surprise visit to the White House briefing room after meeting earlier in the day with Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
“Iran militarily is effectively over,” Trump said. “We’re just keeping it the status quo.”
He added that Iran has been “decapitated” but said he is still looking to make sure there’s a long-term solution to ensuring that Iran’s nuclear program is defanged.
It was some of Trump's most definitive comments about moving away from his threat to resume strikes on Iran after the U.S. midterm elections had passed.
The president's Republican Party lost both chambers of Congress to Democrats in last week's elections. The elections were shadowed by dissatisfaction among the American electorate over the 8-month-old war, which has led to a surge in fuel prices that's impacted nearly ever sector of the global economy.
Trump, over the course of the conflict, has repeatedly said he is on the cusp of ordering U.S. forces to escalate attacks if Iran’s leaders don’t quickly agree to U.S. terms to end the war, only to back down. In earlier cycles, he has also edged away with a last-minute declaration, sometimes at the behest of Gulf allies, that he’s going to give diplomacy more time.
In a posting on social media shortly before speaking to reporters, Trump once again asserted that Middle East allies — Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and others — "would prefer the status quo." Minutes later, in his exchange with reporters, he sought to assure war-weary Americans that there was “positive momentum” and that he saw a “good chance” that the war “could get ended.”
“They’re talking to us, and they’re talking very politely, And we’ll see what happens," Trump said. He added, “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, however, gave no hint of a drawdown of the thousands of U.S. troops who have been shifted to the waters off of Iran and maintain a naval blockade to stem the flow of Iranian oil into the global market.
“We’re keeping it going. We have the greatest military blockade ever,” Trump said.
Qatari officials last week presented proposals on Iran’s nuclear program, according to two Middle East government officials familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The White House declined to comment, though Trump last week alluded to ongoing indirect talks with Tehran.
All the while, Tehran continues to insist on several concessions from the U.S., which Trump has declined in the past. Among the core demands Iran says must be met before engaging in nuclear talks: ending the U.S. blockade on Iran’s ports, lifting sanctions, unfreezing its assets, issuing compensation for war damage and ending hostilities throughout the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon.
Earlier Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has come under fire over the conflict, said the next steps on the war 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.”
The defense secretary has been one of the administration's most prominent defenders of the war. Critics say the administration launched the war without proper authorization, violated the War Powers Resolution and subverted congressional war-declaring powers.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky moved Monday to force a vote to impeachHegseth, largely over his execution of the war.
Trump told CNN in a phone interview Sunday that as long as the U.S. sees progress in negotiations with the Iranians and they sign a “strong agreement,” it’s “highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary” to resume strikes.
Trump said, however, that the U.S. had identified infrastructure targets, including 38 bridges, that it would strike if military action resumes.
The U.S. military, meanwhile, still has carried out limited strikes on Iran, including against its air defenses, at least twice over the past week. It also fired on and disabled a commercial ship Saturday that the U.S. says was trying to breach its naval blockade on Iranian ports.
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AP writers Konstantin Toropin, Samy Magdy and Seung Min Kim contributed reporting.
President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Sometimes NFL play callers tend to make things more difficult on themselves than they need to.
Or, as the saying goes, they get too cute.
Such was the case Sunday when Carolina Panthers first-year play caller Brad Idzik had Bryce Young throw into a crowded left corner of the end zone to tight end Tommy Tremble on a first-and-goal at the Denver 1 rather than simply handing the ball off to Chuba Hubbard.
The result — following after a somewhat controversial challenge flag toss — was an interception by Denver safety Devon Key and a touchback.
The turnover changed the entire momentum of the game.
The Panthers were leading 14-13 at the time and looking to pad their lead heading into the fourth quarter. But the Broncos took advantage of the interception and marched 80 yards for the go-ahead touchdown on a 9-yard run by Jonah Coleman. Denver added another TD on its next drive and beat Carolina, 26-21.
Running a QB sneak with the 5-foot-10, 200-pound Young under center doesn’t play to Carolina's strengths.
Josh Allen, he’s not.
But giving it to Hubbard — once, twice, thrice or even four times — does. He has 28 touchdowns on the ground since 2021. Chances are he's going to get in sooner or later. He's built low to the ground and tends to fall forward with his runs, making him an extremely valuable asset on the goal line. Rarely is he tackled for a loss or no gain.
Panthers coach Dave Canales rationalized the decision this way after the game: "With four downs, you got to be able to sequence it and you have more options to be able to do that. Felt like we had space and felt like we had a great play to be able to take advantage of that.”
Despite the pick, the Panthers received a solid bounce-back performance from Young overall. He finished 28 of 39 for 276 yards with three touchdowns despite more shoddy pass protection.
Young had two turnovers, the second of which was a sack-fumble on Carolina's final offensive play, one he never saw coming from his blindside.
The lack of pass protection continues to plague the Panthers, who have been dealing with all sorts of injury problems up front. Young has been sacked nine times in the past two games. Carolina is hoping reinforcements are on the way with left tackle Ickey Ekwonu set to return this month following a knee injury in last year's playoffs.
The Panthers are also biding their time at cornerback until starters Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson are able to return.
It has been a painful wait.
Along with Horn and Jackson, the Panthers also played Sunday without Akayleb Evans and Will Lee III, meaning they were down to their fifth and six options at cornerback this week — practice squad callups Corey Thornton and Marco Wilson.
That duo combined for five pass interference penalties against Denver.
Broncos coach and play caller Sean Payton went after both cornerbacks early, running the same deep route on the first two plays of the game. He said he has only done that one other time in his career.
Quarterback Bo Nix confirmed the Broncos went into the game looking to exploit Carolina's cornerback situation.
“I love two deep shots on the first couple plays, to get our guys running and make them adjust, make them back up a little bit,” Nix said. “I think that honestly helped throughout the game. Back them up, but also make them be a little bit physical. It helped with some pass interferences as the game went on."
Panthers general manager Dan Morgan continues to be rewarded for signing 34-year-old unrestricted free agent tight end Darren Waller over the summer. The 6-foot-6 Waller has given Young a big, reliable target.
Waller turned in another big game Sunday, catching eight of 10 passes thrown his way for 90 yards and a touchdown. He leads the Panthers with four TD catches.
It was a rough day for Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, who had entered 13 for 13 on field attempts. Fitzgerald not only missed a 43-yarder in the first quarter, but also sent a kickoff out of bounds. giving the Broncos great field position at the 40.
The Panthers emerged from Sunday's game relatively injury free.
Canales said the plan is to open the 21-day practice window on wide receiver Xavier Legette this week as he looks to return from IR, but added it's still too early to know if Horn or Jackson are ready to resume practice.
3 - The Panthers converted all three of their fourth-down attempts, marking the seventh game in team history in which they've attempted at least three fourth downs and converted all of them.
The Panthers head to New Orleans next Sunday to face the Saints. The winner takes over sole possession of first place in the NFC South.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales greets quarterback Bryce Young after their loss against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
