The big picture:
According to Politico, Steve Witkoff told foreign counterparts that the Trump team views these three goals as central to its foreign policy vision. Sources close to the campaign reportedly believe that ending the Gaza war would be the easiest among them, while new negotiations with Iran would be “complex but not impossible.”
What he’s saying:
“Ending the Gaza war, ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, and achieving a new nuclear agreement with Iran are the U.S. President's three main foreign policy goals,” Witkoff told diplomats, according to Politico.
A White House official cited by Politico said the U.S. administration believes progress on any one of these fronts could help unlock diplomatic success elsewhere.
Between the lines:
Witkoff’s remarks came despite escalating regional tensions. On June 13, the Israeli regime launched an attack on Iran, just after the fifth round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington concluded, and as both sides had agreed to meet again for a sixth round. Two weeks later, on June 21, the U.S. joined Israel’s offensive, resulting in the death of more than 1,000 Iranians and severe damage to Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities.
What Iran is saying:
Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that Tehran will not negotiate under pressure or compromise its rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to Trump’s recent call for dialogue:
“Iran has always been ready for respectful and reciprocal diplomatic engagement. The Iranian people, heirs to an ancient and noble civilization, respond to goodwill with goodwill, but we also know how to resist oppression and imposition. That is the hard lesson the war-mongers in Tel Aviv have already learned.”
Go deeper:
Iran Slams U.S. President’s Remarks in Israeli Knesset
Hossein Vaez - M.a.Mahmoudi
