US envoy Steve Witkoff said on Saturday that President Donald Trump is questioning why Iran has not yielded under the mounting military pressure deployed by Washington as part of efforts to push Tehran toward a new nuclear agreement.
The United States and Iran resumed talks this week in Geneva, with negotiations facilitated by Oman, in a renewed attempt to prevent a potential military confrontation.
The diplomatic engagement comes after Washington reinforced its presence in the region by sending two aircraft carriers, fighter jets, and additional military assets to underscore its warnings.
During an interview on Fox News with Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law, Witkoff explained that Trump is seeking clarity on Iran’s stance after cautioning Tehran about serious repercussions if it fails to reach a deal.
“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 haven’t they capitulated?” he 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 disclosed that he had met with Reza Pahlavi, the exiled figure who has lived outside Iran since before the 1979 Islamic Revolution that ended the monarchy.
“I met him at the direction of the president,” he said, offering no further explanation about the nature of the meeting.
Pahlavi, who resides in the United States, recently told an audience in Munich that he was prepared to guide Iran toward what he described as a “secular democratic future,” shortly after Trump suggested that regime change might be the most effective solution for the country.
The envoy’s remarks follow comments by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who indicated that a draft proposal for a possible agreement with Washington could be ready within days.
On Thursday, Trump stated that Iran had no more than 15 days to reach an understanding on issues beginning with its nuclear programme.
As diplomatic discussions continue in Geneva, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared on Tuesday that Trump would not succeed in dismantling the Islamic Republic.
Western governments have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons capability, allegations that Tehran rejects, while maintaining that it has the right to enrich uranium for civilian energy purposes.
At the same time, Iran is seeking relief from sanctions that have weighed heavily on its economy and contributed to anti-government protests that erupted in December.
What you should know
US envoy Steve Witkoff said President Trump is questioning why Iran has not conceded under increased US military pressure as nuclear talks resume in Geneva.
The United States has strengthened its military presence in the region while pursuing negotiations, and Trump has given Tehran a 15-day window to strike a deal.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and is pushing for sanctions relief, even as tensions remain high.
