The Trump administration has reportedly begun preliminary discussions on a potential exit plan, following a three-week conflict in Iran.
President Donald Trump hinted on Friday at the possibility of “winding down” the war; however, U.S. officials predict an additional two to three weeks of combat. Trump’s advisers, including envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, are now focusing on preparing for diplomacy, reported Axios on Saturday.
Any agreement to cease hostilities would necessitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and address Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, sources told the publication.
An official said that U.S. pressure has slowed Iran’s growth and believes this might convince Iranian leaders to come to the negotiating table in diplomatic efforts. The U.S. is pushing for Iran to make six commitments, which include:
- A five-year missile program halt
- Zero uranium enrichment
- The decommissioning of Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow nuclear facilities
- Strict observation protocols on nuclear-related machinery
- Arms control treaties with regional countries
- No financial support to proxy groups, including Hezbollah, Houthis, or Hamas
Notably, Iran has repeatedly declined to agree to those demands.
A U.S. official said there might also be room to negotiate returning frozen Iranian assets as part of potential talks with Iran, stating, “They call it reparations. Maybe we call it return of frozen money.”
However, Trump considers any possibility of reparations a “non-starter.”
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is also trying to identify the right Iranian decision-makers for negotiations and a suitable mediator. While Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has acted as an intermediary before, U.S. officials see him as lacking real authority. The team prefers Qatar over Oman as a trusted behind-the-scenes mediator, though Qatar does not want to serve as the main official mediator.
Trump Rules Out Reparations, Ceasefire
In the past, Trump had said that he was not opposed to negotiations; however, he rejected Iran’s demand for an immediate ceasefire. “You don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side.” Trump also pointed out that there were no leaders left in Iran to talk to.
Last week, the president stated that the U.S. is not “ready” to end the military conflict immediately but plans to withdraw in the near future.
Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains a bone of contention among the warring nations. Trump has already issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran over Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies, threatening to obliterate Iran’s power plants if his ultimatum is not met.
Notably, the recent U.S.-Iran communication has been indirect, with Egypt, Qatar, and the U.K. relaying messages. Iran has expressed interest in negotiations but is demanding a ceasefire, guarantee of no future war, and compensation, sources told Axios.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by a Benzinga editor.
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