Trump says renewed Iran strikes ‘highly unlikely’ if talks progress but warns he could still strike

President Donald Trump said he is "highly unlikely" to restart open war with Iran, but warned he could still strike the country as Washington tries to reach a deal with Tehran to end the conflict.

The now more than eight-month-old war, which stoked inflation and sent oil prices surging, has seen repeated bursts of fighting separated by ceasefires and peace talks for months. It was widely speculated that Trump might restart open conflict after the midterm elections, where his Republican Party lost badly to Democrats.

Trump's comments came during an interview with CNN, where he said restarting the war is unlikely as long as talks to constrain Iran's nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz make progress.

"It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement," Trump said. "The answer is highly unlikely it's going to be necessary. They're a failing nation."

Trump, however, left the door open for additional strikes if he deems it necessary. The president reiterated his threats to strike bridges and power plants in Iran if the war restarts.

"I've got three aircraft carriers here. The other one just arrived. We have three. They're fully locked and loaded," the president said. "We have 38 bridges in our site that we can knock down in literally one hour."

An end to the war and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would likely ease oil prices, though finding a truce has proven difficult. All previous attempts to end the war and reopen the strait have been met with disappointment.

Trump is likely to come under increased pressure to end the conflict, however, now that Democrats have won control of both the House and the Senate. Some Republicans are also likely to be eager for an end to the war, given the role high gas prices played in their drubbing at the ballot box.

The president has demanded Iran fully open the Strait of Hormuz and agree to never develop a nuclear weapon as part of any deal.

Later in the day on Truth Social, Trump posted that "Task Force Iron Gate is in full force and effect in the Islamic Republic of Iran."

"Coupled with history's greatest Naval Blockade, very little gets into, or out of, Iran!" he said.

Central Command announced Task Force Iron Gate on Saturday, describing it as an initiative aimed at "preventing the movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials, and illegal revenue streams across Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea."

The U.S. has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports for months.