White House special envoy Steve Witkoff argued that the United States is pursuing “stability” in its peace talks with Russia and Iran as part of the Trump administration’s use of “peace through strength.”
Witkoff said that a peace deal is “emerging” amid U.S. negotiations with Russia, finding in his most recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Russian leader’s “request is” to achieve a permanent peace between Russia and Ukraine. Witkoff said that the conflict between the two countries is rooted in “some real problematic things happening” adding, without specifying, that the Trump administration is “on the verge” of achieving something that would benefit the world, not just Ukraine and Russia.
“On top of that, I believe there’s a possibility to reshape the Russian-United States relationship through some very compelling commercial opportunities that I think give real stability to the region,” Witkoff said on Fox News’s Hannity. “Partnerships create stability.”
Witkoff also addressed his negotiations with Iran and was pressed on how a deal could be reached among Iranian leaders who are very hostile to the U.S. and Israel. In response, Witkoff argued that President Donald Trump’s “peace through strength” message resonates with world leaders because Trump “means what he says.”
Witkoff explained that the U.S.’s negotiations with Iran focus on two things: verifying Iran’s enrichment and weaponization. He added that “very tight verification” is key to this and claimed that “there hasn’t been much” in accomplishing this verification in prior administrations.
TRUMP’S FOOLISH IRAN DIPLOMACY
The White House said over the weekend that Witkoff’s discussions were “positive and constructive,” commending him for providing “a step forward” in the negotiations.
Trump has expressed some frustration over the timeline of U.S. negotiations with Iran, saying they are taking “a long time” and that Iran “might be tapping us along.” He also wrote on Truth Social that Russia needs to “get moving” on achieving a peace deal to stop the death in the country’s “terrible and senseless war.”
