Peloni: This was an abrupt change of plan, as Trump gave a two day window to make his decision, his decision seems to have been to extend that window for two weeks. Given that the Iranians continue to demand a cease fire, it begs the question as to what brought on this significant reprieve from Unconditional Surrender to two weeks to talk some more.
Foreign ministers of UK, France & Germany set to meet Iran’s FM in Geneva
Photo by Michael Vadon – Donald Trump Sr at Citizens United Freedom Summit in Greenville South Carolina May 2015 by Michael Vadon, CC BY-SA 2.0
Amid ongoing speculation about potential U.S. participation in Israel’s war against the Iranian regime, President Donald Trump seems poised to give diplomacy another chance.
“Based on the fact that there is a chance for substantial negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision on whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt quoted the president as saying on Thursday.
Leavitt stressed that any agreement must guarantee the regime is prevented from enriching uranium or developing a nuclear weapon.
Trump has deliberated about whether to join the strikes against Iran’s nuclear program, particularly the underground facility in Fordow, for the last days.
The president convened his top National Security team for the past three consecutive days as the military has significantly strengthened its forces in the Middle East.
U.S. officials told Axios that before issuing any order, that before issuing any order, Trump wants to verify that military action is both necessary and could achieve the limited goal of dismantling the regime’s nuclear program without dragging the U.S. into a broader, prolonged regional war.
On Thursday, Israel’s leadership spoke directly with senior U.S. officials about the next steps in the war.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and other Israeli senior officials, held a discussion with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, and other senior government officials, The Jerusalem Post reported.
Trump’s statement came the day before Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was set to meet the foreign ministers from Britain, France and Germany – known as the E3 – as well as the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas.
“The Iranians can’t sit down with the Americans, whereas we can,” a European diplomat told Reuters.
“We will tell them to come back to the table to discuss the nuclear issue before the worst case scenario, while raising our concerns over its ballistic missiles, support to Russia and detention of our citizens.”
Axios and Reuters reported that White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had spoke to Araghchi by phone several times since the start of the war, but without success.
Araghchi reportedly rejected a return to negotiations unless Israel halts its strikes in Iran.
While European officials signal optimism ahead of the talks, the U.S. leadership seems skeptical despite Trump’s statement.
Kallas and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke about the negotiations on Wednesday, according to a European diplomat.
Rubio and Witkoff also met British Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the White House on Thursday.
“We discussed how a deal could avoid a deepening conflict,” Lammy wrote on ? following the meeting.
“A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,” he added.
Press Secretary Leavitt said the U.S. would evaluate the outcome of the meeting with Araghchi but cautioned: “The president always wants to use diplomacy, but is not afraid to use force if necessary.”
Trump reposted part of an interview by Marc Thiessen on Fox News Thursday night, possibly sending a subtle message.
“Donald Trump is not an isolationist, but I think some of the Republican isolationists are suddenly discovering that they’re out of touch with the MAGA movement and Donald Trump,” Thiessen said.
“I have total confidence in Donald Trump. This is the guy who killed Qasem Soleimani. You think he’s afraid to take out Fordow? Of course not.”
I see this as a master class in deception and gamesmanship by Trump, and Witkoff is part of it, playing the roll of the greedy, bad cop/buffoon.
From what I’ve read and heard, there are alternatives to the B2+MOAB combo. Not as quick or easy as that, but none of them would require relying on the US to be an active participant, something Israel has never required, and wouldn’t want to change that very important precedent any more than Trump or the isolationist wing would want to either. The two weeks are likely the most time Trump could reasonably stretch things out to, to give Israel as much time as possible to implement its own independent plans to take out Fordow and hopefully the rest of the remaining nuclear and ballistic/hypersonic missile related installations. If Israel can pull off these achievements within that brief window of opportunity, Trump will be able to maintain plausible deniability, to placate the isolationists, and Israel will be able to live happily ever after. And if Israel can’t get it all done in time, I believe Trump will find an excuse to use US materiel to at least take out Fordow, but not before the two weeks are up. We’ll see what happens, as Trump likes to say.
@GreatWhiteNorthener I agree.
This bastard Witkoff has persuaded Trump to hold back on any military action against Iran why he negotiates with the Iranian foreign minister. Whose name I forget. He is actually negotiating with this guy on the phone. Witkoff thinks he can negotiate a deal with the present Iranian regime to end their enrichment of u-235 and give up their nuclear program. This is obviously absurd. The director of the IAEC had just announced a few days ago that Iran is in violation of its agreement not to enrich uranium to weapns grade level, which it signed as a treaty with numerous other countries some yeas back. Witkoff is a complete idiot to think he can make a deal with the mullocracy in Iran. And Trump is too whenever he listens to Witkoff.
The Iranians have never believed that they are obligated to honor any agreement that they make with kuffars (infidels, non-Muslims.) Too bad Witkoff, Trump and other people in the White House can’t get this obvious fact through their heads.
Trump seemed about to announce U.S. military intervention in Iran before Witkoff got to him. He had obtained permission for such an operation from the National Security Council (which he doesn’t need but asked for anyway). And the White House even issued an alert to the press to expect an speech to the nation about Iran within hours. Then Witkoff got to Trump and all that was cancelled, or at least postponed for two weeks.
I wish there was some way to persuade Trump to fire the bastard, but I guess that’s not possible.
1) Trump loves to keep people, especially adversaries, off balance. Bibi is 100% sure Trump is on Israel’s side. Bibi lets Trump be Trump. Very smart move.
2) The Ayatollahs had their time to talk and told Trump to mind his own business.
3) Iran’s Regime, what is left of it, is not negotiating from a position of strength.
4) Two more weeks of Iran’s military and missiles being degraded and not negotiating is pretty stupid.
5) By waiting 2 weeks, Trump can say, “Look I gave these clowns 60 days and they did nothing, now I’m giving them an additional 2 weeks. The ball is in their court and I had hoped the Ayatollah’s were smart guys. Too bad – Fordow is now gone and …….”