Jared Kushner, a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, stated that a peace deal with Iran is "not there yet," despite ongoing "good dialogue" between the two nations. He emphasized that the president will exercise considerable patience in pursuing an agreement, citing a lack of trust built over years of severed relations.
Kushner described the current conversations as "probably more robust than it's maybe ever been," highlighting the importance of exchanging views to foster understanding. However, he noted that Iran is "not showing any interest in doing something that makes sense for us" and indicated that the administration is prioritizing economic pressure on the region.
The Trump administration's objective for a deal, as outlined by Kushner, is a "fair deal that could be a win-win," contingent on Iran becoming a "real country" by abandoning nuclear weapons and ceasing to fund regional terror activities. The US demands include a 20-year halt to Iran's uranium enrichment, abandonment of nuclear weapons pursuit, and surrender of its enriched uranium stockpile. Iran's demands consist of sanctions relief, access to frozen assets, an end to the US naval blockade, war reparations, and control over the Strait of Hormuz.
These comments coincide with the expiration of a 60-day U.S.-Iran ceasefire, which has raised concerns about renewed hostilities and potential disruption to global oil supplies. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil passes, remains a critical point of contention. Iran has previously asserted control over the waterway, leading to a U.S. naval blockade aimed at curtailing Iranian trade and forcing a return to negotiations. The fragile ceasefire had previously broken down in July after Iran attacked commercial vessels in the strait, prompting U.S. strikes on Iranian radar and missile sites. In retaliation, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at U.S.-allied Gulf states and American military bases, resulting in the deaths of 18 U.S. service members and hundreds of wounded over the past six months.
Kushner also commented on potential U.S. actions regarding Oman, a Middle Eastern defense ally negotiating with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The plan involves placing the waterway under joint control. President Trump previously warned against Iran controlling the strait by levying taxes on U.S.-backed oil tankers. Oman has historically served as a mediator between the U.S. and Iran, having helped broker the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal and acting as a U.S. defense partner since 1980. Trump, in remarks to Fox News, issued a strong warning to Oman, stating, "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the s*** out of them."