Special envoy: Trump focused on diplomacy with Iran to resolve nuclear dispute

US President Donald Trump is seeking to engage in dialogue with Iran to address the issue of Tehran's nuclear program through negotiations, aiming to avoid the use of military force, according to Trump's special envoy, Steven Witkoff, in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson.

Carlson admitted that he has the impression that many both inside and outside the US administration are attempting to push Trump toward using military force against Iran. However, the US president, it seems, prefers to first try to resolve the issue peacefully. "Yes, that's true," Witkoff responded.

"I think he wants to deal with Iran with respect. He wants to build trust-based relationships with them, if possible. And that is the directive he has given to his administration. I hope the Iranians will respond positively," added the special envoy.

"And President Trump is a president who does not want to start a war. He would rather use military force to stop a war. I hope that won't be necessary. I hope we can do this at the negotiating table," Witkoff concluded.

On March 7, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had sent a message to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei offering negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program. In response, the Iranian leader emphasized that his country would not engage in dialogue with the US, as Washington is only concerned with its own interests. On March 12, Khamenei described Trump's statement about readiness for talks as a deception of world public opinion.

But Witkoff, defending Trump’s outreach, told Carlson that Trump has the military upper hand and that it would be more natural for the Iranians to push for a diplomatic solution.

“Instead, it’s him doing that,” he said of the letter.

“It roughly said: ‘I’m a president of peace. That’s what I want. There’s no reason for us to do this militarily. We should talk,’” Witkoff said.

“We should create a verification program so that nobody worries about the weaponization of your nuclear material... because the alternative is not a very good alternative.”

Witkoff said that US discussions with Iran continue through “back channels, through multiple countries and multiple conduits.”

Trump, he said, is “open to an opportunity to clean it all up with Iran, where they come back to the world and be a great nation once again... He wants to build trust with them.”

By Tamilla Hasanova