US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has disclosed\nthat President Donald Trump is bewildered and questioning why Iran has\nnot yet \u201csurrendered\u201d and agreed to curb its nuclear programme, despite\nfacing a massive US military deployment in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
The reinforcement of American military strength in the region is\naimed at pressuring Iran into agreeing to a nuclear deal.<\/p>\n
The United States and Iran have resumed nuclear negotiations in\nrecent weeks, mediated by Oman, with the aim of averting possible\nmilitary action after Washington dispatched two aircraft carriers along\nwith fighter jets and other weaponry to the Middle East as a warning to\nTehran.<\/p>\n
In an interview with US media outlet Fox News, as reported by AFP on\nMonday (23\/2\/2026), Witkoff said Trump was \u201ccurious\u201d about Iran\u2019s\nposition after he had warned the country of severe consequences should a\ndeal fail to materialise.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to use the word \u2018frustrated\u2019, because he understands\nthat he has many alternatives, but he is curious why they haven\u2019t\u2026 I\ndon\u2019t want to use the word \u2018surrendered\u2019, but why haven\u2019t they\nsurrendered,\u201d Witkoff said in an interview recorded on Thursday (19\/2)\nbut only broadcast on Saturday (21\/2) local time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy, under this pressure, with the amount of naval and maritime\nforce that is there, why haven\u2019t they come to us and said, \u2018We declare\nwe do not want weapons, so here is what we are prepared to do\u2019? But it\u2019s\nrather difficult to get them to that point,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Trump has ordered a massive military deployment to the Middle East\nand preparations for potential weeks-long air strikes against Iran.\nTehran, meanwhile, has threatened to attack US bases in the region if it\ncomes under assault.<\/p>\n
The US wants Iran to surrender its enriched uranium, which Washington\nsays could potentially be used to build a bomb, as well as to cease\nsupport for militants in the Middle East and accept restrictions on its\nmissile programme.<\/p>\n
Tehran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful but is willing to\naccept certain limitations in exchange for the lifting of financial\nsanctions. Iran has also refused to discuss other issues, such as\nballistic missiles and support for armed groups in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have enriched uranium far beyond the amount needed for civilian\nnuclear weapons. Up to 60 per cent (fissile purity). They may be just a\nweek away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material, and that is\nextremely dangerous,\u201d Witkoff said.<\/p>\n
Witkoff\u2019s remarks came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi\nsaid a draft proposal for a deal with the US would be ready within days.\nTrump said on Thursday (19\/2) that Tehran had a maximum of 15 days to\nreach an agreement.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trump-puzzled-that-iran-has-not-yet-surrendered-despite-us-military-encirclement-1771892984", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }