Jackie Northam

Today, Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, sits down with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi to get more to the meat of the issue. But, you know, over the past few days, Witkoff has been putting out seemingly contradictory statements. He first said that Iran could enrich uranium to low-grade level to produce energy.

Today, Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, sits down with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi to get more to the meat of the issue. But, you know, over the past few days, Witkoff has been putting out seemingly contradictory statements. He first said that Iran could enrich uranium to low-grade level to produce energy.

Then he turned around and said Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment. And, you know, that would be a non-starter for Iran, which insists on its right to enrich uranium for civilian use. You know, in its first term in 2018, Trump pulled the U.S. out of a previous nuclear accord negotiated by President Obama, and it's known as the JCPOA.

Then he turned around and said Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment. And, you know, that would be a non-starter for Iran, which insists on its right to enrich uranium for civilian use. You know, in its first term in 2018, Trump pulled the U.S. out of a previous nuclear accord negotiated by President Obama, and it's known as the JCPOA.

Then he turned around and said Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment. And, you know, that would be a non-starter for Iran, which insists on its right to enrich uranium for civilian use. You know, in its first term in 2018, Trump pulled the U.S. out of a previous nuclear accord negotiated by President Obama, and it's known as the JCPOA.

And it prevented Iran from producing highly enriched uranium, which can be used to make bombs, in return for an easing of sanctions. And Trump called it the worst deal in history. So he'll presumably be hoping to squeeze more concessions out of Iran this time.

And it prevented Iran from producing highly enriched uranium, which can be used to make bombs, in return for an easing of sanctions. And Trump called it the worst deal in history. So he'll presumably be hoping to squeeze more concessions out of Iran this time.

And it prevented Iran from producing highly enriched uranium, which can be used to make bombs, in return for an easing of sanctions. And Trump called it the worst deal in history. So he'll presumably be hoping to squeeze more concessions out of Iran this time.

Well, Trump said Thursday that he still supports a negotiated deal with Iran over its nuclear program. But he also noted that failure to reach an agreement would be, in his words, very bad for Iran. And, you know, that came when he was asked about a report that claimed he had waved off an Israeli plan to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. This is what he said.

Well, Trump said Thursday that he still supports a negotiated deal with Iran over its nuclear program. But he also noted that failure to reach an agreement would be, in his words, very bad for Iran. And, you know, that came when he was asked about a report that claimed he had waved off an Israeli plan to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. This is what he said.

Well, Trump said Thursday that he still supports a negotiated deal with Iran over its nuclear program. But he also noted that failure to reach an agreement would be, in his words, very bad for Iran. And, you know, that came when he was asked about a report that claimed he had waved off an Israeli plan to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. This is what he said.

And, you know, according to that report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had laid out the plan to attack Iran's nuclear facilities when he visited the White House recently. And that was when Trump publicly announced that his envoy would be holding direct talks with Iran for the first time in more than a decade.

And, you know, according to that report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had laid out the plan to attack Iran's nuclear facilities when he visited the White House recently. And that was when Trump publicly announced that his envoy would be holding direct talks with Iran for the first time in more than a decade.

And, you know, according to that report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had laid out the plan to attack Iran's nuclear facilities when he visited the White House recently. And that was when Trump publicly announced that his envoy would be holding direct talks with Iran for the first time in more than a decade.

And NPR has not been able to independently verify that reporting, I have to add.

And NPR has not been able to independently verify that reporting, I have to add.

And NPR has not been able to independently verify that reporting, I have to add.

Well, basically, Iran is not in a position of strength right now. Since the start of the Gaza war 18 months ago, Israel has decimated Iran's main proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas. And it took out key Iranian air defenses when the two countries traded missile fire last year for the first time ever. And since Trump has returned to office, the U.S.

Well, basically, Iran is not in a position of strength right now. Since the start of the Gaza war 18 months ago, Israel has decimated Iran's main proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas. And it took out key Iranian air defenses when the two countries traded missile fire last year for the first time ever. And since Trump has returned to office, the U.S.

Well, basically, Iran is not in a position of strength right now. Since the start of the Gaza war 18 months ago, Israel has decimated Iran's main proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas. And it took out key Iranian air defenses when the two countries traded missile fire last year for the first time ever. And since Trump has returned to office, the U.S.