US President Donald Trump has declined a proposal from Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, which would have restarted negotiations with Iran mediated by Saudi Arabia and Oman. Instead, the administration will pursue a strategy of economic and military pressure against Tehran, following up on Trump’s earlier “locked and loaded” warnings.

Axar.az, citing Israel Hayom, reports that internal administration divisions highlighted the debate between diplomacy advocates (including Jared Kushner) and hardline actors (Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth), who argue Iran is chronically untrustworthy and continues to expand its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as supporting global terror proxies.

A recent meeting between Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida involved detailed intelligence briefings on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, missile programs, and terror networks, resulting in a coordinated timeline for potential responses, including military and economic measures.

Trump has also expressed conditional support for Iranian protesters, stating that the US will intervene if the regime continues to kill peaceful demonstrators, though the timing and method of such actions remain unspecified.

On the economic front, sanctions and market pressures have driven the Iranian Rial to record lows, with soaring prices for essentials. The administration plans to further expand sanctions and enforce maximum restrictions on oil exports, worsening the already fragile economic situation and increasing the likelihood of continued domestic unrest.