US pursues diplomatic path with Iran whilst keeping military option on table

“We don’t need to solve everything militarily,” Mr Witkoff said in a Fox News interview on Sunday. “Our signal to Iran is let’s sit down and see if we can, through dialogue, through diplomacy, get to the right place.”

Earlier this month, Mr Trump disclosed sending a letter to Mr Khamenei outlining what he described as a binary choice: diplomatic engagement or potential military confrontation. The administration’s approach mirrors elements of Mr Trump’s first-term “maximum pressure” campaign, which has been reinstated since his January inauguration.

Iran’s response has been mixed. Whilst Mr Khamenei rejected the offer as “a deception”, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated on Thursday that Tehran would respond to both the “threats and opportunities” contained in the communication. Mr Araqchi later qualified this statement, noting that meaningful dialogue would require Washington to alter its pressure tactics.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz emphasised the administration’s non-negotiable demand: “Iran has to give up its programme in a way that the entire world can see.”

International concerns about Iran’s nuclear advancement have intensified. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, recently warned that time for a viable agreement is diminishing as Tehran accelerates uranium enrichment to near weapons-grade levels.

Despite pursuing diplomatic channels, the administration has implemented four rounds of sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports since Mr Trump’s return to office, signalling its willingness to maintain economic pressure during any potential negotiations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​