The key facts

  • Trump: Iran has 10% of its missile capacity and 15% of its UAV capacity left after the US strikes
  • Trump suggested that resuming military action will 'most likely' not be necessary
  • Talks with Iran are being conducted by Vice President JD Vance, while on November 7 the US struck a launcher on Qeshm Island

Trump's assessment and negotiations

US President Donald Trump, in an interview with CNN, stated that after the American military strikes, the Iranian authorities managed to retain 10% of their missile production facilities and 15% of their capacity to build unmanned aerial vehicles. According to him, there will most likely be no need to resume military action against Iran, and Tehran, as Trump put it, 'wants a deal so badly' (Gazeta.Ru).

Context of the week: negotiations amid strikes

The statement came against the backdrop of active diplomacy and ongoing military operations. It was reported the day before that US Vice President JD Vance has been holding talks for a second week on ending the conflict with Iran; Trump confirmed the fact of contacts with Tehran. However, on the same day, the American military carried out a strike on an anti-aircraft missile launcher on the Iranian island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz — according to the American side, in response to a missile launch from that territory toward a US Air Force fighter jet.

Plans for November 9 and force redeployment

The position that a new campaign is unnecessary diverges from earlier reports: this week, Fox News, citing sources, reported that the US could resume its military campaign against Iran on November 9,when the new moon occurs in the Middle East. Indirect evidence of preparations for such a scenario is the previously reported redeployment of US forces to the Middle East. Thus, the final decision on resuming or ending the conflict remained open at the time of publication: Trump's words about a deal have so far been confirmed neither by signed agreements nor by a halt to the strikes.