Witkoff says US demands Iran scrap nuclear program, but hints at possible compromise

Ahead of pivotal negotiations this weekend in Oman, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff stated on Friday that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remains a non-negotiable red line for the Trump administration. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Witkoff stressed that Washington will open the dialogue with a firm demand: Tehran must dismantle its nuclear infrastructure. However, he acknowledged that negotiations may require some flexibility.  "I think our position begins with dismantlement of your program. That is our position today,” Witkoff told the newspaper. “That doesn’t mean, by the way, that at the margin we’re not going to find other ways to find compromise between the two countries.”   

He emphasized that one boundary remains immovable. “Where our red line will be, there can’t be weaponization of your nuclear capability. ”These remarks reflect the internal deliberations of the Trump administration as it weighs the prospect of diplomacy against the potential necessity of military intervention. Should Iran refuse to shutter its nuclear program, Witkoff said the final decision would rest with President Donald Trump, who would then assess the administration’s next steps in dealing with Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. 

Witkoff described the initial encounter in Oman as foundational. “This is about trust building. It is about talking about why it is so important for us to get to a deal, not the exact terms of the deal,” he told The Wall Street Journal, adding that any eventual agreement would have to include extensive verification mechanisms to ensure Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons in secret. Trump stated this week that the talks in Oman would be direct, but Iranian officials insistedthe encounter between Witkoff and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi would involve indirect engagement rather than face-to-face talks.  (Read more)