Trump Has Not Yet Announced End to War; Iran: We Are Ready to Defend Ourselves

President Donald Trump has stated he is not yet prepared to declare the military operation against Iran concluded. Conversely, Trump claims that Washington and Tehran are engaged in diplomatic dialogue amidst the ongoing conflict between the two nations.

“I have not yet declared this operation as concluded,” Trump told journalists when asked whether he believes any statement about destroying Iran’s military capabilities should be followed by a formal declaration, as reported by RIA Novosti on Monday, 16 March 2026.

“We are talking with them, but I believe they are not yet ready. However, they are fairly close (to reaching an agreement with the US),” Trump added.

On 28 February, the US and Israel launched attacks on targets in Iran, including Tehran, causing destruction, civilian casualties, and resulting in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated by attacking Israeli territory as well as US military targets in the Middle East region.

The US and Israel justified the military operation as a pre-emptive strike in response to alleged threats from Tehran regarding its nuclear programme. However, they are no longer concealing their desire to see a change in power in Iran.

Defending itself