Trump holds 'all the cards' in Iran conflict, US says
US President Donald Trump is in an advantageous position in dealings with Iran, a White House official told The National on Tuesday, after the President announced new negotiations had taken place. Mr Trump's remarks that his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff had negotiated with the Iranian delegation at the UN took many by surprise, as no talks are known to have happened…
White House officials claim that President Donald Trump is in a strong position regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran. This comes after the announcement of new negotiations, which took place between Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, and Steve Witkoff, a special envoy, and an Iranian delegation at the UN. The talks, which lasted three hours, caught many off guard as there had not been any formal discussions since the interim deal in July that faltered.
Tommy Pigott, a State Department spokesman, revealed that the administration is intensifying pressure on Iran through Treasury Department's Economic Sanctions campaign and the US military's efforts to obstruct Iranian oil shipments. The administration holds all the cards in this situation and is continuing to tighten the screws, according to Pigott. He added that the Iranian regime's choice is clear.
Trump had previously threatened to "annihilate" Iran if it did not agree to a deal. He also stated that his administration's ultimate objective is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Witkoff confirmed that the mediators successfully concluded a round of discussions, hoping that these talks will prove to be constructive and promising. The mediators will continue their work, he added.
In addition to the blockade of Iranian oil shipments, the US military has partially reopened the Strait of Hormuz, reducing Iran's influence in the region. Before the war, about 20 million barrels of oil flowed daily through the waterway. Currently, approximately 60-70% of that oil is passing through, according to Pigott.
The situation has become more complex since the Iran-backed Houthis seized multiple areas in Yemen, potentially threatening shipping through the Bab Al Mandeb strait. The State Department has warned that the conflict could escalate rapidly. The Trump administration is maintaining constant communication with Saudi partners and cooperating closely with Gulf allies. However, Washington has not yet taken direct action against the Houthis.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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