Trump Convenes National Security Meeting Amid Stalemate in Iran Conflict
President Trump is set to hold a Situation Room meeting to address the ongoing deadlock in negotiations to end the Iran war, as diplomatic efforts remain stalled.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to convene a national security meeting on Monday to discuss the persistent deadlock in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict with Iran. The Situation Room session will include key members of his foreign and security team, focusing on the Middle East impasse.
Over the weekend, Trump canceled a planned meeting between Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Pakistan, deeming the trip unnecessary given the current diplomatic stalemate. "I see no point of sending them on an 18-hour flight in the current situation. It's too long. We can do it just as well by telephone," Trump told Axios on Saturday. "The Iranians can call us if they want. We are not gonna travel just to sit there."
The president has consistently asserted that the war in Iran was justified to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. However, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz remains a significant obstacle to claiming victory in the region. In response, the U.S. has implemented a naval blockade of Iranian ports as part of a pressure campaign to compel Tehran to reopen the strategic passage, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil transits.
An official informed ABC News that Trump's team is increasingly optimistic about the effectiveness of the U.S. naval blockade, while simultaneously growing skeptical about the prospects for positive negotiations with Iran. The official noted that Iran's recent proposals still fall "well short" of the administration's red lines for accepting a deal. A central element of Iran's proposal is that nuclear negotiations would commence only after the strait is reopened and the blockade lifted.
White House spokesperson Olivia Wales emphasized the sensitivity of the ongoing diplomatic discussions, stating, "These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the U.S. will not negotiate through the press. As the president has said, the United States holds the cards and will only make a deal that puts the American people first, never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon."
The situation remains fluid as both nations navigate complex diplomatic and strategic challenges in pursuit of a resolution to the conflict.