Trump wonders why Iran has not surrendered yet

Steve Witkoff, special envoy of US President Donald Trump, said that the president wonders why Iran has not yet “surrendered” and not agreed to curb its nuclear program, at a time when Washington is mobilizing its military capabilities in the Middle East.

Witkoff added in an interview with Fox News yesterday, Saturday: “I do not want to use the word ‘frustrated’ to describe him, because he realizes that he has many alternatives, but he wonders why they did not… I do not want to use the word ‘give up’, but why did they not give up?”

He continued: “Why, in light of this pressure, and with all this enormous naval power there… why didn’t they come to us and say ‘We declare that we do not want weapons, so here is what we are prepared to do’?… However, it is somewhat difficult to push them to that stage.”

Trump ordered a large mobilization of forces in the Middle East and preparations for the possibility of an air attack on Iran that would last for weeks. Tehran threatened to bomb American bases in the region if they were attacked.

The United States wants Iran to give up enriched uranium, which Washington says can be used to make a bomb, and to stop supporting militants in the Middle East and accept restrictions on its missile program.

Tehran says that its nuclear program is peaceful, but it is willing to accept some restrictions on it in exchange for the lifting of financial sanctions. She refuses to link this to other issues such as missiles and support for armed groups.

“They have enriched uranium well beyond the level needed for civilian nuclear power,” Witkopf said. “It is up to 60 percent purity… They may be ‘one week away’ from having industrial grade material suitable for making bombs, and that is really dangerous.”

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday that Tehran and Washington still differ in views on easing sanctions.