The U.S. special envoy revealed that President Donald Trump is questioning why Iran has yet to "surrender" amid U.S. military pressure. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister confirmed there remains an opportunity to resolve the issue through diplomacy. Oman stated that a new round of talks is being prepared in Geneva amid large-scale protests at several Iranian universities.
Steve Witkoff, special envoy for President Donald Trump, told Fox News that Trump is "wondering" and questioning Iran’s stance, as there are no signs of "surrender" despite the U.S. continuously reinforcing its military presence in the Middle East and threatening limited military action if a nuclear deal cannot be reached.
Witkoff said that Trump does not feel "frustrated" because he has many other options, but he is surprised that under the immense pressure from the U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups and naval forces sent close by, Iranian leaders have not yet agreed to negotiate to confirm they do not seek to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated he still believes in resolving the issue through a "win-win" diplomatic approach. He revealed that officials are drafting an agreement to present to Witkoff in the coming days after progress was made in indirect talks held in Geneva on 17 February.
However, Trump set a clear deadline last Thursday, saying the world will know within "the next 10 days" whether an agreement will be reached or if the U.S. will have to take decisive military measures.
Currently, the U.S. has deployed massive military assets to the region, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, along with the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, supporting fleets, destroyers, warships, and numerous fighter jets.
While external pressure mounts, large protests have erupted within Iran at several universities, such as Sharif University of Technology in Tehran and Ferdowsi University in Mashhad, commemorating over 7,000 deaths from government crackdowns last month.
Human rights organization Hrana reported that over 7,015 people have died in the latest government suppression, including more than 200 children. Iranian authorities dispute this figure, claiming around 3,100 deaths, mostly security personnel attacked by rioters.
Fact-checked videos show protesters waving the "Lion and Sun" flag, a symbol before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, chanting slogans supporting the monarchy. Meanwhile, pro-government groups counter-protested by burning U.S. and Israeli flags, leading to clashes in some areas.
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