The U.S. prefers diplomacy over military action in handling tensions with Iran, according to President Trump’s special Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Speaking at the Israeli-American Council conference in Florida overnight Thursday, Witkoff said, “I hope there’s a diplomatic resolution. I really do,” while outlining four key issues the U.S. wants Tehran to address: “Nuclear, enrichment, missiles… and the proxies.”
Posted on X @AvivaKlompas Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special Middle East envoy, speaking at the annual conference of the Israeli-American Council on Thursday.
Witkoff suggested Iran’s internal crises – including severe shortages of water and electricity and inflation above 50 percent – could push the regime toward compromise. “If they want to come back to the League of Nations, we can solve those four problems diplomatically, then that would be a great resolution. The alternative is a bad one.”
He said that Trump had issued warnings to Tehran and ordered direct communication with Iranian officials amid rumors of mass executions. “At his direction, we communicated with the Iranians yesterday,” he said. “One of the things we were concerned about were the killings that were rumored to be on the way – hangings, mass hangings – and that’s been shut down.”
He praised Iranian demonstrators, saying, “They’re incredibly courageous people, and we stand with you.”
On Gaza, Witkoff highlighted Trump’s initiatives, including a new Board of Peace and U.S. progress in replacing Hamas rule: “We actually have succeeded, the United States government has, in standing up a new government that will forever replace Hamas.”
He said the hostage release came about as a result of Hamas’ shifting calculations: “They stopped seeing the hostages as an asset and started seeing them as a burden.”
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Hostages with American officials in Washington, November. Credit: Embassy of Israel to Washington
Hostages with American officials in Washington, November. Credit: Embassy of Israel to Washington
Witkoff also described Trump’s emotional reaction when the last 20 Israeli hostages and their families visited the White House after their release in October: “I saw the tears. He doesn’t like anyone to see tears. And he said to me, ‘This is the greatest day I’ve ever had in the White House.'”