He revealed the Trump administration’s official stance in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. Stressing the need for a total halt to Iran’s nuclear activities, he stated, “In my view, our position begins with the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program. That is our position today.”
Witkoff’s remarks indicate that the White House continues to cling to a rigid, maximalist stance against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program. Although he alluded to the possibility of some flexibility, he issued a clear warning: “That doesn’t mean there won’t be other ways to find compromise.”
Nonetheless, he immediately underscored the potential for escalation: “If Iran refuses to dismantle its nuclear program, I will refer the matter to President Trump to determine how to proceed.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Witkoff laid out the prerequisites for any potential agreement with Iran, adding, “Any deal with Iran must include strict and detailed measures to ensure that no nuclear weapons are being produced.”
Regarding the outlook for the first meeting between the parties, he remarked, “The goal of the initial meeting with Iran is to build trust and explain the importance of reaching an agreement—not to negotiate the fine print of the deal.”
This US approach is being articulated at a time when Iran has from the outset taken a clear and principled position on negotiations. The Islamic Republic of Iran has emphasized that the talks will be strictly limited to the nuclear issue and will take place in an indirect format. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that the country’s nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes and is under the full oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency ().
At the same time, Tehran has explicitly declared that it will not forfeit its legal rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and considers any negotiation held under pressure, threats, or unilateral preconditions to be unacceptable.
Witkoff’s remarks about “dismantling” Iran’s nuclear program come at a time when both practical and legal realities render such a demand not only unfeasible but also in violation of international norms. Technically speaking, Iran has now reached a level of self-sufficiency in the nuclear fuel cycle that is considered irreversible.
Under these circumstances, if Washington seeks a sustainable, practical, and reality-based agreement, it must make a serious choice between continuing its policy of maximum pressure and adopting a strategic, phased approach. What emerges from the Trump envoy’s remarks appears less like the beginning of confidence-building and more like a mindset still unready to embrace the realistic path of diplomacy.
NOURNEWS