Jared Kushner, a political advisor to President Trump, acknowledged on Monday that negotiations for a peace deal with Iran are "not there yet" and cautioned against rushing the process, despite what he described as robust dialogue. He emphasized that the president intends to be "very patient" in securing an agreement.
"There's really not a lot of trust between American and Iran after all these years of not having these relations and dialogues," Kushner told Fox News. "But obviously, they're engaging in a very strong way and that's quite positive, but we're not there yet on understanding."
Kushner characterized the conversations between the U.S. government and Iran as potentially "more robust than it's maybe ever been," citing the exchange of views as crucial for deal-making. "You have to exchange views," he stated. "President Trump is gonna be very patient. He doesn't like to - he doesn't wanna rush to a deal. He'll make the right deal when the right deal is ready, but we are having very positive and active conversations."
While President Trump's administration is focused on applying "economic pressure" on Iran, Kushner admitted that Tehran has not shown interest in terms that would be agreeable to the U.S. He added that for a "fair deal that could be a win-win," Iran would need to cease nuclear weapons development and stop funding regional conflicts.
Kushner's remarks coincide with the expiration of a 60-day U.S.-Iran ceasefire, sparking concerns about a potential escalation of hostilities that could destabilize the region and impact global oil supplies. President Trump has also issued a stern warning to Oman, a key U.S. defense ally in the Middle East, regarding its ongoing negotiations with Iran. The discussions involve a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil passes. Trump has stated that Iran will not be permitted to control the strait by imposing fees on U.S.-backed oil tankers.
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since Iran shut it down following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in late February. Oman has historically served as a mediator between the White House and Iran, having played a role in brokering the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal and acting as a U.S. defense partner since 1980.
Iran has used suicide drones, naval mines, and speedboats against tankers aligned with the U.S. to gain leverage in negotiations. This disruption has led to fluctuations in global oil markets, with crude prices rising. In response, Trump has implemented a naval blockade on Iranian ports to curtail the regime's trade and compel Tehran to return to negotiations. However, these efforts have not yet yielded a breakthrough, with Iran resisting U.S. demands for it to halt uranium enrichment for 20 years, abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons, and surrender its enriched uranium stockpile. Iran, conversely, is seeking sanctions relief, access to frozen assets, an end to the U.S. blockade, war reparations, and control over the Strait of Hormuz.
The ceasefire previously broke down in July after Iran attacked commercial vessels in the strait, prompting U.S. strikes against Iranian radar systems and missile sites. Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles and drones at U.S.-allied Gulf states and American military bases. Since the conflict began, 18 U.S. service members have been killed and hundreds more wounded over the past six months.