WP: US special envoy may visit Tehran for direct talks if invited

Stephen Wittkoff, the US Special Envoy to Iran, may travel to Tehran to meet with Iranian officials if he receives an invitation, according to The Washington Post, citing sources within the Trump administration.

Wittkoff has reportedly reached out to Iran, urging the country to engage in direct negotiations. The envoy stated that if the planned consultations in Oman are not held in a direct format, he may not attend.

"To overcome the deep mistrust on both sides, we need a full and open discussion — a true meeting of minds," Wittkoff remarked. Despite this, two US officials confirmed that Wittkoff is likely to travel to Tehran if Iran extends an invitation.

President Trump revealed on March 7 that he had sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, offering to hold talks over Iran’s nuclear program. In late March, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran had responded to Trump's letter through Oman, which had facilitated the communication between the two sides.

On April 7, it was disclosed that after their exchange of letters, both the US and Iran had agreed to initiate direct negotiations on April 12 in Oman. The primary participants in these talks will be Araghchi and Wittkoff. According to Trump’s remarks on April 7, these discussions will be held directly. However, Iranian officials clarified that Tehran chose to conduct its negotiations with the US through intermediaries to avoid undue pressure from Washington, and they do not intend to alter the format of the talks after the Oman meeting.

On the topic of the upcoming negotiations, White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt confirmed on April 8 that the talks on April 12 would indeed be direct. She said, “These will be direct talks on Saturday. But I won’t get ahead of President Trump by announcing any further details.”

This statement comes despite Iran's earlier indication that its talks with the US would take place through intermediaries.

By Tamilla Hasanova