US-led delay in confronting Houthis a ‘grave mistake,’ says former Houthi spokesman - interview

Dr. Sebastian Gorka, a White House deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism, told The Jerusalem Post that the U.S. and Iran are still pursuing a potential deal, and the Trump administration believes it can resolve the ongoing confrontation soon. Gorka did not provide specific details about President Donald Trump's plans but emphasized that the administration's objectives towards Iran have not changed. The decision, according to Gorka, lies with the Iranian leadership.

Gorka, who will participate in the National Conservatism Conference in Jerusalem next week, argued that those who doubt Trump's ability to secure a comprehensive deal with Iran should examine his track record. He pointed to Trump's book, "The Art of the Deal," which he claims no one has ever defeated in business in nearly six years as president. Gorka also highlighted that Trump has already secured eight peace deals in less than a year, a feat he claims would warrant a Nobel Peace Prize.

The White House aide explained that the administration's goals in Iran align with the demands outlined in a letter Trump sent to then-Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a year ago. The letter addressed Iran's nuclear program, its support for regional proxies, and its broader destabilizing activities in the Middle East. Gorka noted that nothing about the president's stance has changed since then.

Gorka emphasized that the best indicator of the administration's intentions is Trump's public statements, urging the public to follow him on Truth Social and listen to his press events. Regarding concerns in Israel about a weaker deal than Trump has demanded, Gorka dismissed the notion that such worries should influence expectations. He compared Trump's negotiating style to the acquisition of Greenland, dismissing initial skepticism as absurd.