U.S. waits for Iran's reply on peace talks
SkimNews Take
Pursuing a summit now signals Washington senses negotiation leverage precisely as Iran's deterrence is described as collapsed—meaning any agreement shaped by U.S. urgency may diverge from what Israel considers acceptable, explaining its quiet wariness.
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- U.S. and regional mediators are discussing high‑level peace talks with Iran as early as Thursday, but they are still awaiting Tehran’s response.
- Trump told reporters the U.S. “is talking to the right people, and they want to make a deal badly,” while Iranian officials deny any behind‑the‑scenes negotiations but confirm receipt of U.S. messages.
- Pakistan, together with Egypt and Turkey, said it is ready to host the summit and Trump posted Pakistan’s invitation on Truth Social.
- Steve Witkoff told Trump that Iran had agreed to several key points of the U.S. 15‑point plan—including giving up its highly enriched uranium stockpile—though it is unclear if any Tehran authority actually made those commitments.
- Netanyahu expressed concern that a U.S.‑brokered deal could fall short of Israel’s objectives and limit Israeli strikes against Iran, and Israeli officials doubt Iran actually offered the concessions the U.S. claims.
- 82nd Airborne division’s command element has been ordered to deploy an infantry brigade of several thousand soldiers to the Middle East, expanding U.S. options for potential escalation.
- White House said Operation Epic Fury will continue unabated while Trump explores diplomacy, and a senior official warned that if talks fail the U.S. will resume bombing Iran.
Why it matters: If Iran consents, the United States could shift from costly air strikes to a negotiated settlement, easing the war’s economic burden, while Israel risks losing leverage over Iranian aggression; a negative response keeps the U.S. on a path of escalation, including possible ground forces.
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