Witkoff says Iran must end enrichment, hours after mooting modest cap

Under Trump’s leadership, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff “is working to resolve our differences with Iran through dialogue and diplomacy, if that is possible,” a State Department spokesperson told Iran International.

"This diplomacy is being led by Ambassador Witkoff, who is coordinating with Secretary Rubio," the spokesperson said.

"Secretary Rubio has repeatedly echoed what President Trump has said: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," the spokesperson added.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday that any agreement with Iran must lead to the full dismantling of its nuclear program, an end to its regional activities, and a halt to missile development.

“The only deal worth making with Iran is one that: 1. Fully and permanently dismantles its nuclear program. 2. Ends all export of Iranian terrorism. 3. Fully stops ballistic missile development,” Bennett wrote on X.

He praised what he called unprecedented US leverage under President Donald Trump, saying Iran and its allies are now “temporarily weaker than ever, almost defenseless.”

“It would be a historic miss to allow Iran to regroup and threaten us—the US, Israel and the rest of the world—again,” he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday that any agreement with Iran must lead to the full dismantling of its nuclear program, an end to its regional activities, and a halt to missile development.

“The only deal worth making with Iran is one that: 1. Fully and permanently dismantles its nuclear program. 2. Ends all export of Iranian terrorism. 3. Fully stops ballistic missile development,” Bennett wrote on X.

He praised what he called unprecedented US leverage under President Donald Trump, saying Iran and its allies are now “temporarily weaker than ever, almost defenseless.”

“It would be a historic miss to allow Iran to regroup and threaten us—the US, Israel and the rest of the world—again,” he added.

In a scathing response to an op-ed article by former US Secretary of State John Kerry, Iran's hardline Kayhan daily dismissed his assertion that Tehran is backed into a corner due to recent developments.

Kayhan’s editorial, responding to a Wall Street Journal op-ed by John Kerry and Thomas Kaplan that suggested President Donald Trump now has an opportunity for a broader nuclear deal with Iran due to Tehran’s weakened regional position, dismissed the analysis as based on false premises and a fundamental misunderstanding of Iran’s strengths.

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Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp on Tuesday praised Oman’s role in facilitating nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, following a meeting in the Netherlands with his Omani counterpart, Badr al-Busaidi.

“Good to host my colleague Badr al-Busaidi and discuss Oman’s important role in the region, including facilitating the nuclear talks between the US and Iran,” Veldkamp wrote on X.

He added that they also discussed prospects for a ceasefire in Gaza and broader regional developments.

Veldkamp thanked Oman for its assistance in consular affairs and said the Omani state visit reaffirmed long-standing bilateral ties. “The state visit of Oman to the Netherlands reaffirms the strong bond between our countries, founded on a shared maritime history and 400 years of friendship,” he wrote.

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