Maybe an exit ramp. Would Netanyahu accept that? Then again, Tel Aviv is pretty fukked up right now
1 min ago
Trump's Mideast envoy has remained in contact with Iranians since US strikes, sources say
From CNN’s Alayna Treene and Kevin Liptak
The US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, delivers remarks at the White House on May 28.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/File
President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has remained in contact with Iranian officials since US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, two sources familiar the matter said, as the administration continues to seek out a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
But his efforts are facing significant challenge from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has been exceedingly difficult for Iranian officials to reach after he retreated to a hidden location amid escalating tensions, the sources said.
The understanding among US officials is that the 86-year-old Khamenei will need to sign off on any major diplomatic decisions. But getting information to and from him has become more difficult.
That has left communications between the US and the Iranians — either directly or through intermediaries — somewhat halting, officials said.
Khamenei has not delivered any recorded messages since the US strikes. And US officials believe he is in hiding amid the ongoing conflict to avoid assassination.
Nonetheless, Trump said he hopes that after the weekend strikes, Iran will return to negotiations that had been largely deadlocked before Israel began its attacks this month.
The US and Iran have maintained back-channel communications throughout the current crisis. Before the weekend strikes, the US conveyed a message that the actions would be contained and that Trump was still seeking to resolve the matter diplomatically, officials said.
You are not the chosen people. You’re infiltrators which is why you keep having all these problems.
