Yesterday, the White House Situation Room once again became the stage for decisions on one of the most sensitive foreign policy issues facing the United States. The session, chaired by President Donald Trump and attended by key figures in diplomacy, national security, and the military, focused on reviewing and redefining the US approach to negotiations with Iran. According to released information, the primary agenda was to outline a new framework for Saturday's negotiations in Muscat—talks that the US aims to turn into a project for reclaiming its strategic dominance using a blend of political, economic, and military tools.
Witkoff’s Pivot: From Compromise to Elimination of Enrichment
The turning point in these developments was the sudden shift in position by Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for Middle Eastern affairs. Prior to this meeting, he had shown signs in unofficial talks of being open to a limited scope of Iranian nuclear activity. However, immediately after Tuesday’s meeting, the US’s official position was adjusted to state that “any uranium enrichment by Iran is unacceptable.” Statements by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce clearly affirmed this change in tone.
This pivot reflects more than a mere negotiation tactic—it signals a strategic recalibration of Washington’s approach toward Tehran. This change must be analyzed within the framework of the "targeted maximum pressure" doctrine. The newly unified stance indicates the emergence of a new consensus in the White House: the goal is no longer to control, but to eliminate Iran’s strategic nuclear capabilities.
Operational Threat: Pentagon Sends a Message from Bab el-Mandeb
Evidence suggests Trump is trying to redesign the negotiation structure—not as a process for reaching compromise, but as a means to apply targeted pressure using every available lever: political, economic, media, and even military. In line with this strategy, the Pentagon released a video during the meeting showing the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier stationed in operational readiness in the waters near Bab el-Mandeb. This move, while not an overt threat, clearly serves as a complementary signal. Its message to Tehran is unambiguous: Washington intends to negotiate from a position of full strength.
From Internal Consensus to a Strategy of Compound Pressure
In this context, the Situation Room meeting should be regarded as a strategic inflection point. The redefinition of red lines, enhanced coordination among security and diplomatic agencies, symbolic activation of military options, and the setup of a media narrative to support a stricter interpretation of Iran’s behavior—all indicate that Trump’s team is pursuing a different kind of negotiation.
From a game theory perspective, the US is simultaneously activating multiple levers—non-engagement military threats, media consensus-building, and redefined political conditions—as part of a strategy of compound pressure on the other party. The goal of this strategy is to limit Iran’s options: either accept a deal more stringent than the 2015 JCPOA, or enter a phase of confrontation with mounting political, economic, and security costs. Witkoff’s alignment with the State Department is part of the White House’s broader design.
Tehran Responds: Iran’s Red Lines Are Clear
The key question remains: how will Iran respond to this hybrid scenario?
Yesterday, in the first meeting of the new year with senior officials from all three branches of government, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic addressed the renewed indirect negotiations with the US for the first time. He cautioned against both excessive optimism and pessimism regarding the talks in Oman, emphasizing that: "The country’s progress toward its goals must accelerate across all areas, and nothing should be tied to the outcomes of the negotiations."
He underscored that: “Our red lines are clear to both us and the other side, and they must not be crossed.” The Leader added: “We are distrustful of the other side, but we are confident in our own capabilities.”
Muscat: A Test of Power and Patience
The Leader’s remarks reaffirm Iran’s declared policy of preserving its right to enrich uranium and rejecting unilateral conditions. The latest statements by Witkoff and the US State Department, which clearly transgress Iran’s red lines, are poised to reshape the dynamics of the talks.
What transpired in Tuesday’s Situation Room meeting was not just the crafting of a new tactic, but a return to a hard-power logic in US foreign policy. For Washington, the Iran file is not merely a nuclear issue—it is part of a strategic rivalry aimed at redefining regional order. As such, Saturday’s talks in Muscat are more than technical discussions; they are a test of strength, patience, and strategic creativity. The outcome will influence not only the future of the nuclear dossier and sanctions relief, but also Iran’s standing in the evolving security architecture of West Asia.
Iran’s Official Position
Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded to the US's unconstructive stance with a pointed tweet:
"In football, moving the goalposts is a professional foul and an unfair act. But in diplomacy, such a move—promoted by hardliners who lack an understanding of reasoned negotiation—can derail any potential start."
NOURNEWS