Latest news with #Witkoff


Al-Ahram Weekly
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
New expectations for a ceasefire in Gaza - World - Al-Ahram Weekly
The chances of an upcoming Gaza ceasefire are slim, observers say, as are those of an imminent nuclear deal between Washington and Tehran Early next week, US Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is expected to arrive in the region for a tour that will include stops in the capitals of the two regional mediators for a Gaza ceasefire, Cairo and Doha. Witkoff's regional tour will also include Israel and maybe two other Arab capitals. Witkoff's visit comes against the backdrop of new hype for a Gaza ceasefire that US President Donald Trump has produced with statements suggesting that an end to the Israeli war on Gaza that has been going on unabated since 7 October 2023 could be just around the corner. The Witkoff visit, if it happens, is important because it reflects a US commitment to engage all the parties concerned to end the war on Gaza, said an informed Egyptian source. However, he added that the visit in itself does not promise that a deal is in the making. According to the Israeli press, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to arrive in Washington on 7 July for talks with Trump. Prior to the announcement of the date of the visit, Trump called on both Hamas and Israel to 'make the deal in Gaza' and demanded the immediate return of the hostages in a post published on Truth Social. It was not immediately clear, according to the sources who spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly, whether Trump is likely to put pressure on Netanyahu to move forward with a deal to end the war on Gaza in order to fulfil the expectations of the US president. The sources, including Egyptian and Cairo-based foreign diplomats, said that the intensified Israeli strikes on Gaza during the past few days indicate that Netanyahu is probably making it difficult for Hamas leaders to pressure them into accepting 'a total surrender' deal that they have been declining for the past few months. The new Israeli wave of military escalation also includes evacuation orders. Thousands of Palestinians fled eastern Gaza city after the Israeli army warned of a broad and imminent offensive in the area. Warnings posted on social media announced that the military operations would escalate and advance westward towards Gaza city's centre. Residents in several densely populated neighbourhoods were instructed to evacuate to Al-Mawasi, a congested coastal suburb in southern Gaza already overwhelmed by overcrowding and a severe lack of basic services. According to three Cairo-based foreign diplomats, from the perspective of Netanyahu, it could well be that a deal will start with the hand-over of the remaining Israeli hostages that were taken on 7 October 2023 during the resistance operation against Israel and then move to the eviction of a few hundred Hamas leaders from Gaza, the handover of Hamas arms, and the lumping of the entire Gaza population in less than one third of the Strip and eventually their eviction, possibly through Egypt. In an interview with the TV talk show Kalema Akhira (The Last Word) this week, the Egyptian foreign minister reaffirmed Cairo's categorical objection to the displacement of the Gazan population. Instead, he suggested a two-month truce that could allow for the release of the hostages and the improvement of the disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza. A source close to Hamas said that in their talks with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators, the leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement had declined any deal that does not lead to the end of war, even if through a phased process of withdrawals, without any conditions on the displacement of the Gazans or any demands of Hamas to either disintegrate or disarm. The Egyptian source said that during the days leading up to his scheduled visit to Washington, Netanyahu is likely to 'continue to impose a new reality on the ground, whereby the vast majority of Palestinians would be lumped together in a narrow segment of Gaza in anticipation of the 'you either stay and suffer or exit and live' scenario.' It is not clear whether this visit is more about Iran than about Gaza, given the ongoing scepticism in some diplomatic quarters in the region over the sustainability of the ceasefire between Iran and Israel that was concluded late last week at the end of the 12-day war initiated by Israeli strikes against Iranian nuclear and military installations. However, a source informed on the back channels of the US-Iran talks said that Trump is serious about getting a new nuclear deal with Iran 'in weeks not months'. He said that whatever the expectations for a possible resumption of the missile exchange between Iran and Israel, it was highly unlikely that Washington would allow it to develop into a consequential confrontation, at least in the short term. According to the same source, a deal might prove to be difficult to strike in view of the 'zero enrichment' conditions that Trump added towards the end of the negotiations process that was ongoing prior to the Israeli strikes against Iran on 13 June. The Iranians are keen to avoid the resumption of the war, but they will not agree to Trump's condition. As a result, it is a question of how far the mediators can go in reconciling the positions of the Iranians and those of Washington that are highly influenced by Netanyahu's objectives, the source said. On a parallel track, a regional diplomatic source said that speculation that the Netanyahu-Trump talks in Washington will pave the way for new normalisation deals between Syria and Lebanon, on the one hand, and Israel, on the other, are 'premature'. 'I am not saying that it is not going to happen, but I can certainly say that the ground is not fully paved,' he stated. According to this source, any normalisation deal in the full sense of the word with Syria and Lebanon would require the mutual recognition of clear borders. He argued that it is hard to see how this could happen without a proper demarcation process on the border between Syria and Lebanon. 'This is not at all a straightforward issue, and the new regime in Damascus has been very slow in accommodating pressing Lebanese demands to start a process there,' he stated. The same source said that the new regime in Damascus might agree to a deal that does not entail the full regaining of Syrian control of the occupied Golan Heights up to the border point of 4 June 1967 prior to the Israeli occupation. However, he added, there is a limitation to the territorial compromise that Syria's Interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa could accept, given the desire for the re-integration of Syria. On Monday, Trump signed an order to remove the sanctions imposed on Syria. According to the regional diplomat, this is a sign that 'a process of sorts will get started between Syria and Israel, but not a sign that a comprehensive peace deal will be signed shortly.' According to some sources, there is an American proposal for a joint Israeli-Syrian presence in the Golan Heights that Trump and Netanyahu will discuss in their Washington talks. And according to the regional source, there are 'already several channels for direct talks open between Israel and Syria.' He added that there are also some indirect channels between Lebanon and Israel, 'where Israel isn't showing any flexibility' with regard to Lebanese demands for a full Israeli withdrawal from the five villages it occupied during its confrontation with Hizbullah last year. Overall, the sources agree that the region is not yet ready for the kind of 'mega-deal' that Trump is trying to promote, and that the chances of conflicts continuing are high. Reported by Dina Ezzat, Siham Shamalakh, and Nermine Said Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:


Al-Ahram Weekly
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Few expectations for a ceasefire in Gaza - World - Al-Ahram Weekly
The chances of an upcoming Gaza ceasefire are slim, observers say, as are those of an imminent nuclear deal between Washington and Tehran Early next week, US Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is expected to arrive in the region for a tour that will include stops in the capitals of the two regional mediators for a Gaza ceasefire, Cairo and Doha. Witkoff's regional tour will also include Israel and maybe two other Arab capitals. Witkoff's visit comes against the backdrop of new hype for a Gaza ceasefire that US President Donald Trump has produced with statements suggesting that an end to the Israeli war on Gaza that has been going on unabated since 7 October 2023 could be just around the corner. The Witkoff visit, if it happens, is important because it reflects a US commitment to engage all the parties concerned to end the war on Gaza, said an informed Egyptian source. However, he added that the visit in itself does not promise that a deal is in the making. According to the Israeli press, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to arrive in Washington on 7 July for talks with Trump. Prior to the announcement of the date of the visit, Trump called on both Hamas and Israel to 'make the deal in Gaza' and demanded the immediate return of the hostages in a post published on Truth Social. It was not immediately clear, according to the sources who spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly, whether Trump is likely to put pressure on Netanyahu to move forward with a deal to end the war on Gaza in order to fulfil the expectations of the US president. The sources, including Egyptian and Cairo-based foreign diplomats, said that the intensified Israeli strikes on Gaza during the past few days indicate that Netanyahu is probably making it difficult for Hamas leaders to pressure them into accepting 'a total surrender' deal that they have been declining for the past few months. The new Israeli wave of military escalation also includes evacuation orders. Thousands of Palestinians fled eastern Gaza city after the Israeli army warned of a broad and imminent offensive in the area. Warnings posted on social media announced that the military operations would escalate and advance westward towards Gaza city's centre. Residents in several densely populated neighbourhoods were instructed to evacuate to Al-Mawasi, a congested coastal suburb in southern Gaza already overwhelmed by overcrowding and a severe lack of basic services. According to three Cairo-based foreign diplomats, from the perspective of Netanyahu, it could well be that a deal will start with the hand-over of the remaining Israeli hostages that were taken on 7 October 2023 during the resistance operation against Israel and then move to the eviction of a few hundred Hamas leaders from Gaza, the handover of Hamas arms, and the lumping of the entire Gaza population in less than one third of the Strip and eventually their eviction, possibly through Egypt. In an interview with the TV talk show Kalema Akhira (The Last Word) this week, the Egyptian foreign minister reaffirmed Cairo's categorical objection to the displacement of the Gazan population. Instead, he suggested a two-month truce that could allow for the release of the hostages and the improvement of the disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza. A source close to Hamas said that in their talks with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators, the leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement had declined any deal that does not lead to the end of war, even if through a phased process of withdrawals, without any conditions on the displacement of the Gazans or any demands of Hamas to either disintegrate or disarm. The Egyptian source said that during the days leading up to his scheduled visit to Washington, Netanyahu is likely to 'continue to impose a new reality on the ground, whereby the vast majority of Palestinians would be lumped together in a narrow segment of Gaza in anticipation of the 'you either stay and suffer or exit and live' scenario.' It is not clear whether this visit is more about Iran than about Gaza, given the ongoing scepticism in some diplomatic quarters in the region over the sustainability of the ceasefire between Iran and Israel that was concluded late last week at the end of the 12-day war initiated by Israeli strikes against Iranian nuclear and military installations. However, a source informed on the back channels of the US-Iran talks said that Trump is serious about getting a new nuclear deal with Iran 'in weeks not months'. He said that whatever the expectations for a possible resumption of the missile exchange between Iran and Israel, it was highly unlikely that Washington would allow it to develop into a consequential confrontation, at least in the short term. According to the same source, a deal might prove to be difficult to strike in view of the 'zero enrichment' conditions that Trump added towards the end of the negotiations process that was ongoing prior to the Israeli strikes against Iran on 13 June. The Iranians are keen to avoid the resumption of the war, but they will not agree to Trump's condition. As a result, it is a question of how far the mediators can go in reconciling the positions of the Iranians and those of Washington that are highly influenced by Netanyahu's objectives, the source said. On a parallel track, a regional diplomatic source said that speculation that the Netanyahu-Trump talks in Washington will pave the way for new normalisation deals between Syria and Lebanon, on the one hand, and Israel, on the other, are 'premature'. 'I am not saying that it is not going to happen, but I can certainly say that the ground is not fully paved,' he stated. According to this source, any normalisation deal in the full sense of the word with Syria and Lebanon would require the mutual recognition of clear borders. He argued that it is hard to see how this could happen without a proper demarcation process on the border between Syria and Lebanon. 'This is not at all a straightforward issue, and the new regime in Damascus has been very slow in accommodating pressing Lebanese demands to start a process there,' he stated. The same source said that the new regime in Damascus might agree to a deal that does not entail the full regaining of Syrian control of the occupied Golan Heights up to the border point of 4 June 1967 prior to the Israeli occupation. However, he added, there is a limitation to the territorial compromise that Syria's Interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa could accept, given the desire for the re-integration of Syria. On Monday, Trump signed an order to remove the sanctions imposed on Syria. According to the regional diplomat, this is a sign that 'a process of sorts will get started between Syria and Israel, but not a sign that a comprehensive peace deal will be signed shortly.' According to some sources, there is an American proposal for a joint Israeli-Syrian presence in the Golan Heights that Trump and Netanyahu will discuss in their Washington talks. And according to the regional source, there are 'already several channels for direct talks open between Israel and Syria.' He added that there are also some indirect channels between Lebanon and Israel, 'where Israel isn't showing any flexibility' with regard to Lebanese demands for a full Israeli withdrawal from the five villages it occupied during its confrontation with Hizbullah last year. Overall, the sources agree that the region is not yet ready for the kind of 'mega-deal' that Trump is trying to promote, and that the chances of conflicts continuing are high. Reported by Dina Ezzat, Siham Shamalakh, and Nermine Said Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:


Roya News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
'Israeli' cabinet to discuss partial deal, temporary ceasefire: Hebrew media
'Israeli' Diplomatic-Security Cabinet is expected to hold a critical and potentially contentious meeting Sunday evening to assess the future of the war in Gaza, 'Israel Hayom' reported. According to the report, 'Israeli' Occupation Forces (IOF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir is set to present updates on military operations, emphasizing that 'Israeli' forces now control nearly 75 percent of the Gaza Strip. Zamir's assessment will also focus on progress toward dismantling Hamas infrastructure through the army's multi-stage 'Gideon chariots' plan. In light of the IOF's evaluation, the government earlier on Sunday approved the return of residents to 'Israeli' communities near Gaza that were evacuated after the October 7 event. The IOF claims there is no longer a security threat to prevent their return. However, several senior officials have criticized the army's position, warning that Hamas still retains organized forces, commanders, and control over the civilian population in the Strip. The debate reflects growing divisions within 'Israel's' leadership regarding the war's direction and timeline. Government sources cited by 'Israel' Hayom argue that despite battlefield gains, Hamas has not been defeated and the war's original objectives remain unmet. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is expected to oppose the continued flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, asserting it undermines 'Israel's' ability to pressure Hamas. National Missions and Settlements Minister Orit Strock is reportedly advocating for a 'humanitarian separation' within the territory as a strategy to defeat the group. Despite increasing pressure, sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insist that ending the war is not currently on the table. Instead, discussions are focused on a possible phased captive deal, known as the 'Witkoff framework', that would involve the partial release of captives followed by a temporary pause in fighting. Minister Dermer is expected to travel to the US on Monday to explore terms for such a deal, particularly in light of recent comments from US President Donald Trump suggesting a ceasefire may be within reach.


Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Inside Trump's secret nuclear deal plan for Iran: Billions in aid and a total ban on enrichment
The Trump administration has intensified backchannel diplomacy with Iran following the ceasefire between Tehran and Tel Aviv, floating a suite of economic and nuclear energy incentives aimed at bringing Iran back to the negotiating table. According to a CNN report citing four sources familiar with the discussions, the US is considering offering Iran access to as much as $30 billion to develop a non-enrichment civilian nuclear energy programme, alongside sanctions relief and the unfreezing of billions in Iranian assets. The outreach comes despite two weeks of military escalation between Israel, Iran, and the United States, including US 'bunker-buster' strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. In public statements, President Donald Trump has appeared non-committal about whether a formal agreement is necessary, but senior officials in his administration, including US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, are pressing forward with efforts to present a comprehensive 'term sheet' to Iran. CNN reports that key terms of the evolving proposal were discussed in a confidential meeting at the White House on June 21 between Witkoff and Gulf partners, just one day before the US strikes on Iran. Two sources said the meeting lasted several hours and included discussions on financing a new Iranian nuclear programme that would explicitly exclude uranium enrichment. The proposal includes: Witkoff told CNBC that the model the US is proposing for Iran resembles the United Arab Emirates' nuclear energy programme, which relies on foreign-supplied enriched uranium and includes international monitoring. 'Now the issue and the conversation with Iran is going to be, how do we rebuild a better civil nuclear programme for you that is non-enrichable?' Witkoff said. A Trump administration official emphasised to CNN that the US would not directly fund the project. Instead, the administration hopes Gulf allies will foot the bill. Although no direct meeting between the US and Iran has been confirmed, five rounds of talks reportedly occurred before the latest military escalation, with the sixth scuttled due to Israel's strikes. Following the US's retaliatory bombing campaign, intermediaries—primarily Qatar—have resumed discussions to salvage the ceasefire and revive the diplomatic track. The administration has conveyed to Iran through intermediaries that any new agreement must include a categorical end to uranium enrichment. According to CNN, the US warned Iran ahead of its military strikes that the action would be limited and that diplomatic channels remained open. At a NATO summit in The Hague on June 25, Trump confirmed the possibility of upcoming talks but maintained a sceptical tone. 'We may sign an agreement, I don't know,' he said. 'I don't care if I have an agreement or not. I could get a statement that they're not going to go nuclear, we're probably going to ask for that.' Trump also reaffirmed the administration's long-standing position: 'The only thing we'd be asking for is what we were asking for before: no nuclear.' Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio stressed that any such agreement must involve direct engagement between Iran and the United States, not just backchannel talks via third countries. This new diplomatic push comes amid controversy over the effectiveness of the recent US strikes. Leaked assessments from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) indicated that Iran's nuclear infrastructure may have largely remained intact, with chances of key enrichment sites becoming operational again within months. Trump administration officials have disputed those claims, with CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard asserting that newer intelligence indicates major destruction at the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan sites. Despite Trump's ambivalence, several of his advisers reportedly view a long-term nuclear agreement as key to ensuring the current ceasefire holds and to shaping his foreign policy legacy ahead of the 2026 election cycle. While Witkoff has signaled optimism, stating, 'I think they're ready,' no dates have been confirmed for formal US-Iran negotiations. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has publicly denied knowledge of imminent talks. The Trump administration's attempt to pivot from military confrontation to diplomatic engagement marks a significant development in the region. However, with mutual distrust running high and Iran's parliament recently voting to end cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the road ahead remains fraught.


Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
"We remain in close communication with Iranians": White House
Washington DC: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday said the Trump administration is focused on diplomacy and peace, adding that the US continues to remain in close communication with the Iranians. Addressing a press briefing, Leavitt said, "I spoke to our special envoy Witkoff at length this morning and I can assure all of you we continue to be in close communication with the Iranians and through our intermediaries as well, namely the Qataris, who have been an incredible ally and partner throughout this entire effort. As I said, this administration is always focused on diplomacy and peace, and we want to ensure we can get to a place where Iran agrees to a non-enrichment civil nuclear program." "The president wants peace. He always has, and right now we're on a diplomatic path with Iran. The president and his team, namely special envoy Witkoff, continue to be in communication with the Iranians and especially our Gulf and Arab partners in the region to come to an agreement with Iran," she added. Her remarks follow after the US had conducted precision strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites under Operation 'Midnight Hammer'. Speaking about Operation Hammer, Leavitt said that the mission was a total success. "When we look at the entirety of the intelligence that we have to date, it concludes that these strikes on the Iranian nuclear facilities were absolutely successful. It was a total obliteration, as the President said. Not only does our own intelligence say that, but the Iranian Foreign Minister also said that. We saw Israel conclude the same thing based on their own intelligence. We also had the United Nations say that as well," she said. Highlighting that the Abraham Accords was one of Trump's most "signature accomplishments" in his first term, Leavitt said that the US President would like to see more countries sign on during his second term. "As for our alliance with the state of Israel and that friendship, partnership between the United States and the state of Israel I would argue it has never been stronger and see a new era in which perhaps some of these Gulf and Arab states can sign on to the Abraham Accords," she said. Leavitt underscored how the US President is hopeful that the more countries in the Middle East would sign the Abraham Accords for enduring peace in the region. "When the President met with the new president of Syria, that was one of the requests that he made for Syria to sign on to the Abraham Accords." Her remarks were reiterated by the Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the State Department, Tommy Pigott, when asked about the goal of peace talks with Iran taking place next week. "The goal of an Iranian meeting is to obtain longstanding peace in the region".