Following a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel, Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has confirmed that preliminary discussions have already begun between the US and Iran to resume nuclear negotiations.
“The conversations are promising. We’re hopeful,” Mr Witkoff told Fox News. “Now it’s time to sit down with the Iranians and get to a comprehensive peace deal.”
This comes as Donald Trump announced early Wednesday AEST that a ceasefire was once again “in effect,” despite expressing anger that both parties had violated the agreement he had brokered.
“I’m not happy with Israel or Iran,” Trump told reporters on the White House lawn before departing for the NATO summit in The Hague. “When I say you’ve got 12 hours, you don’t go out in the first hour and drop everything you’ve got.”
He slammed both sides, saying they’ve been fighting for so long they “don’t know what the f*** they are doing.” Trump demanded that Israeli jets en route to Iran return, following what he called an “excessive” response to a rocket that may have misfired.
Meanwhile, preliminary classified US intelligence reports indicate that recent American strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities did not “obliterate” them as previously claimed.
The developments have sparked cautious optimism in diplomatic circles but also highlight the volatility and mistrust that continue to dominate the region.
