Trump says US war in Iran ‘effectively over’ as he plays down escalation concerns

What happened: Trump said the US war in Iran is "effectively over" and played down concerns of escalation after the midterms, speaking at a White House briefing following talks with Qatar's prime minister. Why it matters: Gulf countries lobbied Trump not to resume fighting. Trump said there is momentum toward ending the conflict, though he has often exaggerated the status of Iran negotiations during the nearly nine-month war. Coverage: 8 outlets in 24h

Trump said the US war in Iran is "effectively over" and played down concerns of escalation after the midterms, speaking at a White House briefing following talks with Qatar's prime minister.

Gulf countries lobbied Trump not to resume fighting. Trump said there is momentum toward ending the conflict, though he has often exaggerated the status of Iran negotiations during the nearly nine-month war.