In a recent phone interview, President Donald Trump indicated that future U.S. military action against Iran is “highly unlikely” if discussions about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and the Strait of Hormuz yield positive results.
“It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump said. He mentioned, “The answer is highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary. They’re a failing nation with 301% inflation this year. I would if necessary, but we did significant damage already.”
Repeating his assessment, Trump noted that a resumption of military operations is “highly unlikely.” He underscored that, “They’re withering away financially. We’ve hit them militarily, and we could finish them off,” emphasizing the military pressure on Iran.
The president’s remarks come after several months of tension, with limited military exchanges and continued Iranian attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
Ongoing indirect talks, facilitated partly by Qatar, have yet to produce a public agreement. Iranian officials have pointed to U.S. midterm election results as affecting recent negotiations. Recently, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that discussions had paused to assess the political implications of the elections.
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Trump says return to war with Iran 'highly unlikely' as sides continue negotiations https://t.co/FWeTTXD1LA pic.twitter.com/2yHu7XsIxb
— New York Post (@nypost) November 8, 2026
While reiterating that a return to conflict is “highly unlikely,” Trump confirmed that military options are still an avenue. “We’re ready for it. I’ve got three aircraft carriers positioned, fully prepared,” he stated.
He mentioned that U.S. military commanders have pinpointed key targets in Iran, including power plants and bridges. “We have 38 bridges set in our sights that we could take down quickly,” he added. “They’ll all be down.”
Nonetheless, Trump expressed a preference to avoid such actions, explaining, “I don’t want to do that because it takes years to rebuild bridges, and I’m a builder.”
During the lead-up to the recent midterm elections, Trump had affirmed that the U.S. would refrain from attacking Iran beforehand, stating on Truth Social that the U.S. “will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections.”
After the elections, there were speculations among administration officials regarding the potential for increased military actions, although Trump cautioned against any rush. The ongoing conflict and its impact on fuel prices were mentioned in several exit polls as concern areas for Republican losses.
As discussions are set to continue this week between the U.S., Iran, and third-party mediators, the focus remains on finding a diplomatic resolution.
