On Friday, Trump said on Truth Social that the US was close to achieving the goals of the operation against Iran. “We are getting closer to achieving our goals and are considering reducing the intensity of our great military actions in the Middle East in the face of the terrorist regime of Iran,” the president said.
US officials expect another two-three weeks of fighting. Meanwhile, Trump's advisers want to start preparing the ground for diplomatic action. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner are said to be involved.
How will the war with Iran end? The system would contain six points
As Axios reported, an agreement to end the war would have to include, among others: the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a long-term agreement on Iran's nuclear program, and Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.
The US and Iran have not had direct contact with each other in recent days, but Egypt, Qatar and Britain have exchanged messages between the countries, the sources said. Egypt and Qatar have informed the US and Israel that Iran is interested in negotiations, but on very strict terms. Tehran is demanding a ceasefire, a guarantee that war will not break out again in the future and compensation.
The representative of the US authorities expressed confidence that the Iranians would come to the negotiating table. The US wants Iran to commit to six things:
- not conducting a missile program for five years,
- zero uranium enrichment,
- decommissioning reactors at the Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo nuclear facilities
- introducing external surveillance of centrifuges and similar equipment that could contribute to the development of a nuclear weapons program
- concluding arms control treaties with countries in the region, which are to set a limit on missiles at one thousand
- lack of financing for organizations such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen or Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Axios stressed that Tehran has previously repeatedly rejected several of these demands. Iranian leaders stressed that negotiations with a president who in the past entered into talks and then suddenly bombed Iran were difficult.
Trump rejects Iran's demand
On Friday, Trump said he was not opposed to talks but was not currently interested in Iranian demands for a ceasefire. The president also considers Iran's demand for reparations unacceptable, an American source said.
A second official said negotiations were possible to return frozen assets to Iran. “They call it reparations. Maybe we'll call it a return of frozen money (…) – he added.
Trump's team is currently trying to determine who in Iran is the best contact person for negotiations and which country is the best mediator. Previously, this function was performed by Oman, but this time another country is being sought, possibly Qatar. Two sources, however, said Qatar was ready to help in the background but did not want to be the official lead mediator.
