U.S. Envoy Discusses Trump’s Efforts to Build Trust with Iran and Address Gaza Conflict

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced President Trump’s initiative to build trust with Iran to avert conflict. Trump sent a letter to Khamenei urging negotiations. Witkoff highlighted the military advantage of the U.S. and stressed the need for diplomacy amidst rising tensions in Gaza and Yemen. He outlined a focus on stability and the disarmament of Hamas as critical goals.

In a recent interview, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff conveyed that President Donald Trump aims to foster trust with Iran in order to avert armed conflict. Mr. Trump had previously stated on March 7 that he dispatched a letter to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging resumption of dialogues regarding the Iranian nuclear program and cautioning about potential military action. Witkoff noted, “It roughly said: ‘I’m a president of peace. That’s what I want. There’s no reason for us to do this militarily. We should talk.'”

Mr. Khamenei responded in a televised address, declaring, “The Americans should know threats will get them nowhere when confronting Iran.” Witkoff emphasized Trump possesses military superiority, suggesting it would be more logical for Iran to seek a diplomatic resolution. He also mentioned that discussions with Iran are ongoing through diverse diplomatic channels.

Witkoff expressed Trump’s openness to re-establish constructive relations with Iran, asserting, “He wants to build trust with them.” As tensions have escalated due to Israeli strikes on Gaza and U.S. actions against the Iran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen, the need for dialogue remains critical. Additionally, Witkoff discussed the war in Gaza and efforts to reinstate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas but refrained from revealing specific plans for Gaza.

He noted that achieving “stability in Gaza” might involve varying levels of return for different actors. However, he firmly stated that the presence of a terrorist organization like Hamas leading Gaza would be unacceptable to the Trump administration and would necessitate a disarmament approach.

Witkoff concluded that any political involvement from Hamas would depend on their willingness to disarm in alignment with U.S. and Israeli expectations.

In summary, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff articulated President Trump’s desire to establish trust with Iran to prevent military conflict. He emphasized the importance of diplomacy and ongoing discussions through various channels. As tensions rise in the region, particularly concerning Gaza and Hamas, Witkoff conveyed the necessity for stability while maintaining that the presence of terrorist organizations in governance is unacceptable. Overall, a diplomatic resolution appears to be the priority for the Trump administration.

Original Source: www.thenationalnews.com