Witkoff says Trump ‘curious’ why Iran has not yielded amid US military build-up
As negotiations continued in Geneva, Iran’s Supreme Leader, , declared that Trump would not succeed in undermining the Islamic Republic.
The United States Middle East envoy, , has said President is questioning why Iran has not “capitulated” despite Washington’s military build-up aimed at pressuring Tehran into a nuclear agreement.
The United States and Iran resumed Oman-mediated talks in this week, seeking to avert potential military action. The renewed diplomacy follows Washington’s deployment of two aircraft carriers, fighter jets and additional weaponry to the region to reinforce its warnings.
In an interview on with Lara Trump, Witkoff said the president was “curious” about Iran’s stance after previously warning of severe consequences if a deal was not reached.
“I don’t want to use the word ‘frustrated’, because he understands he has plenty of alternatives, but he’s curious as to why they haven’t… I don’t want to use the word ‘capitulated’, but why they haven’t capitulated,” Witkoff said.
“Why, under this pressure, with the amount of seapower and naval power over there, why haven’t they come to us and said, ‘We profess we don’t want a weapon, so here’s what we’re prepared to do’? And yet it’s sort of hard to get them to that place.”
Witkoff also confirmed that he met with , the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, at Trump’s direction. Pahlavi has lived outside Iran since before the 1979 revolution that toppled the monarchy.
“I met him at the direction of the president,” Witkoff said, without elaborating. “I think he’s strong for his country, cares about his country. But this is going to be about President Trump’s policies.”
Pahlavi, who is based in the United States, recently told supporters in Munich that he was prepared to lead Iran toward a “secular democratic future,” after Trump suggested regime change could benefit the country.
Witkoff’s remarks come after Iranian Foreign Minister said a draft proposal for a potential agreement with Washington would be ready within days. Trump has said Iran has no more than 15 days to reach a deal addressing concerns over its nuclear programme.
As negotiations continued in Geneva, Iran’s Supreme Leader, , declared that Trump would not succeed in undermining the Islamic Republic.
Western governments accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran denies, maintaining that its nuclear activities are for civilian purposes. Iran is also seeking relief from sanctions that have weighed heavily on its economy and contributed to waves of anti-government protests.
