Trump Envoy Steve Witkoff Rushes to Israel as U.S.-Iran Nuclear Showdown Looms

Steve Witkoff, President Trump's senior adviser, will travel to Israel on Tuesday to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and military chief Eyal Zamir, as the U.S. and Iran prepare to hold nuclear negotiations. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the start of negotiations with Washington, a government source told Iranian state media Fars. The talks will include Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Witkoff, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported Monday, though the location and timing haven't been finalized, as reported by Israel Hayom.

Witkoff, who is managing Iran contacts for the Trump administration, will coordinate positions with Israeli leadership before the talks begin. Iran denied Monday it had received an ultimatum from Trump, after the president said he imposed a deadline for negotiations and threatened military action if Tehran doesn't comply.

"Iran is a country that always acts with honesty and seriousness in diplomatic processes, but we will never tolerate an ultimatum," Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told reporters. He said Iran is finalizing details of "the diplomatic process, which we hope to complete in the coming days." (Ed note: These guys are just playing the US for time.)  (Read More)