Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, has emphasised that the president is focused on avoiding military conflict with Iran and is keen on pursuing dialogue and building trust. During a recent television appearance, Witkoff explained that Trump saw himself as a leader of peace and believed there was no need for military action when talks were possible.
He said the US did not need to rely solely on military solutions and that the administration’s message to Iran was an invitation to engage in diplomatic discussions to find a resolution. "We don't need to solve everything militarily," Witkoff told Fox News yesterday. "Our signal to Iran is let's sit down and see if we can, through dialogue, through diplomacy, get to the right place. If we can, we are prepared to do that. And if we can't, the alternative is not a great alternative,” said Witkoff.
1/2 Steve Witkoff in an interview with Carlson summarized Trump letter to Iran:
— SeKooh (@3KooH) March 22, 2025
“I am a president of peace. That's what I want. There's no reason for us to do this militarily. We should talk. We should, clear up the misconceptions & create a verification program../ pic.twitter.com/jrSsN7HHfO
This diplomatic effort stems from Trump’s recent letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, outlining a two-month deadline for a new nuclear agreement and proposing a verification programme to ease concerns about the weaponisation of Iran’s nuclear materials.
However, tensions persist. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the letter as more threatening than conciliatory, asserting that negotiations with the US remained impossible unless Washington changed its approach of applying pressure. Earlier, Khamenei had rejected engagement, labelling Trump a bully.
The Iranians are still miffed with Trump, holding him responsible for the collapse of the nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 and for reimposing sanctions. It prompted Iran to enrich uranium to 60 per cent purity—close to weapons-grade levels. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has enough fissile material for multiple bombs but has not moved to make one, yet.
Military developments add complexity. Trump has cautioned Iran over its ties to Yemen’s Houthi forces, who were subjected to a massive round of American attacks recently. The Houthis responded by targeting Israel and the US has advised Jerusalem restraint, promising to take care of the Iran-backed rebels.
Even as Trump and Witkoff urge for peace, senior White House officials continue to insist that Iran eliminate its nuclear programme entirely. This, alongwith military threats, has sparked debate within Iran about abandoning its stated no-weapons policy. Trump has expressed a preference for diplomacy, indicating that Iran could be addressed either militarily or through an agreement, and that he favours the latter to avoid harming Iran, whom he described as great people.
Amid these developments, the Trump administration is preparing for a strategic meeting with Israeli officials to assess the implications of Iran’s nuclear programme. This comes close on the heels of a recent US-Israel joint air force exercise demonstrating preparedness for potential strikes if diplomacy collapses.
