Witkoff: Trump Surprised by Iran’s Defiance Despite Intense U.S. Pressure
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy in the nuclear talks with Iran, acknowledged that the American president is puzzled by Tehran’s refusal to submit to U.S. demands
United States | PUREWILAYAH.COM — The U.S. representative in the nuclear negotiations with Iran has admitted that President Donald Trump is astonished by Iran’s continued resistance despite extensive American pressure, including the deployment of naval power in the region.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy in the nuclear talks with Iran, acknowledged that the American president is puzzled by Tehran’s refusal to submit to U.S. demands.
Washington’s “Red Lines” and Expectations of Capitulation
Witkoff revealed that Trump had personally questioned him about Iran’s stance earlier in the day, underscoring Washington’s expectation that pressure would force Tehran to back down.
Responding to a question about Iran’s red lines, Witkoff said the president had raised the issue earlier and was himself surprised by the level of Iran’s steadfastness.
The president asked me that this morning, and he’s — I don’t want to use the word frustrated. It’s almost because he understands he’s got plenty of alternatives. But he’s curious.
He’s curious as to why they haven’t — I don’t want to use the word capitulated — but why they haven’t capitulated yet.”
Military Pressure Fails to Break Iran’s Position
Witkoff openly pointed to U.S. military pressure as a factor Washington believed would compel Iran to comply, particularly the deployment of American naval forces.
“Why, under this sort of pressure, with the amount of sea power and naval power that we have over there, why they haven’t come to us and said, ‘We profess that we don’t want a weapon. So here’s what we’re prepared to do.’
And yet it’s hard to get them to that place.”
The remarks effectively acknowledge that Washington expected Iran to concede under military and strategic pressure—an expectation that has so far failed to materialize.
U.S. Claims on Enrichment and Iran’s Response
Witkoff also repeated Washington’s claim that Iran’s uranium enrichment exceeds civilian needs, declaring enrichment a U.S. “red line.”
These assertions persist despite the fact that Iran remains under some of the most stringent inspection regimes conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has repeatedly confirmed that there is no evidence Iran’s nuclear program has moved toward weaponization.
Iranian officials have consistently stated that militarization has no place in the country’s nuclear doctrine and that Tehran has always been prepared to engage in confidence-building measures.
Meeting with Reza Pahlavi
Witkoff further disclosed that he had met with Reza Pahlavi on Trump’s orders, but sought to distance the talks from any opposition agenda.
“On Trump’s orders, I met with Reza Pahlavi,” he said, adding that Iran-related decisions are tied to Trump’s policies and not to Pahlavi, noting that the U.S. president prefers to hear a wide range of views. (PW)