Trump Says Qatar and Saudi Arabia Prefer a Peaceful Solution, Sees Ukraine Breakthrough Chance

President Donald Trump told Reuters after meeting Qatar's prime minister that both Qatar and Saudi Arabia would prefer a peaceful solution to the Iran conflict, and that he sees a chance of a possible breakthrough at this week's Abu Dhabi talks on Ukraine. Trump also said the United States is ready to carry out strikes on Iran if necessary, and defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth against impeachment efforts, saying "he won two wars."

What Trump said

• Iran. The U.S. is ready to strike if necessary, Trump told Reuters, while Qatar would prefer a peaceful solution. Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, met Trump at the White House on Monday.
• Saudi Arabia. Trump said Saudi Arabia would also prefer a peaceful solution to the conflict with Iran.
• Ukraine. Trump said the Abu Dhabi talks this week offer a chance of a possible breakthrough.
• Hegseth. Trump defended the Pentagon chief against impeachment efforts, saying he won two wars.

Where the Iran talks stand

• Strike language. Trump said Sunday that renewed attacks on Iran were highly unlikely if talks show progress on Iran's nuclear program and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran International and Al Jazeera. Monday's remarks keep the strike option open.
• Iran's proposal. Iran sent a new nuclear and peace proposal through Qatari mediators on Nov. 6, according to Al Jazeera. Iran wants the U.S. to meet seven demands before discussing it, and describes a two-day sequence in which Hormuz reopens on day two. The U.S. is reviewing it.
• Washington's response. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said talks have not made progress and that Iran's demands are unrealistic, according to Al Jazeera.
• Tehran's warning. Iran's foreign minister threatened severe retaliation if U.S. attacks resume, according to Al Jazeera, and the U.S. has carried out limited strikes on Iranian air defenses at least twice in the past week.

Our earlier report on the Qatari and Pakistani mediation covers the reported terms and the competing accounts of what a deal would include.

The Hegseth impeachment push

• The articles. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Monday, according to Reuters, starting a two-day clock for an expected House vote this week. The articles cite waging war on Iran without congressional approval, other alleged abuses of power and an alleged violation of Sen. Mark Kelly's free speech rights. These are allegations, not findings.
• Trump's defense. In a CBS "60 Minutes" interview that aired Sunday, Trump called the push very unfair. He was referring to the Iran war, which Reuters describes as at an impasse, and to the January U.S. raid that deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
• Republican resistance. House Speaker Mike Johnson opposes impeachment during hostilities abroad. Massie, who leaves office in January, has urged Trump to replace Hegseth, according to Reuters.
• The math. Congressional sources told Reuters the resolution may have the simple majority it needs in the Republican-led House before Democrats take control on Jan. 3. Conviction would require two-thirds of the Senate, where Republicans hold 53 of 100 seats.
• Hegseth. He said in a video message that the effort would not work and announced a Pentagon news conference for Tuesday, his first there since May, according to Reuters.

Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi

Trilateral talks among Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. are scheduled for Nov. 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi, according to Euronews, with the European Union and France also attending. Trump told CBS he expects the war to end soon and said post-war Ukraine would have a somewhat different shape, without explaining what that meant. Rubio said Sunday that progress had been made on post-war security arrangements. The sides remain far apart: Russia demands that Ukraine withdraw from four regions it claims to have annexed and give up its NATO ambitions, while Kyiv rejects ceding territory and wants security guarantees and an immediate ceasefire.

How markets are reacting

U.S. stocks rallied and oil fell Monday. The moves came during a session in which several Iran-related reports and a broad technology-led rebound were in play, so they cannot be pinned on Trump's remarks alone.

The S&P 500 is as of 3:35 p.m. ET and WTI is as of 3:22 p.m. ET.

What to watch

• The Qatar meeting. Whether Washington responds to Iran's two-day proposal, and whether Trump moves from strike readiness to action.
• The House vote. Whether the Hegseth articles reach the floor this week and whether the House passes, tables or delays them.
• Abu Dhabi. Whether the Nov. 10-11 session produces a ceasefire framework or only a new round of talks.
• Oil. Whether crude holds its Monday drop if Iran diplomacy stalls.
• Related coverage. See our report on the Qatar and Pakistan mediation and the Nasdaq recap.

Sources: Reuters, with reporting from Iran International, Al Jazeera, Euronews and CBS News. This article is informational only and is not investment advice.