Financial Times:

Felicia Schwartz in Washington

Donald Trump is to put his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in charge of addressing Washington’s concerns over Iran, suggesting the US president is willing to test diplomacy before increasing the pressure on Tehran, people familiar with the matter said.

Witkoff, a real estate investor who played a pivotal role in securing the Gaza ceasefire, was expected to spearhead efforts on Iran’s nuclear programme as part of a broader remit by the president to “stop the wars” in the region, the people said.

Trump in 2018 pulled the US out of Iran’s nuclear accord with world powers, then imposed stringent sanctions and warned that it would be “the official end of Iran” if it fought Washington and pursued nuclear weapons.

During the transition to his new administration, Trump’s team drew up possible measures to reinstate his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran, through fresh sanctions or stricter policing of current measures.

But Trump and his aides have telegraphed in early meetings that they want to keep open a path to avoiding a broader confrontation with Iran.

Some administration officials have told foreign diplomats and colleagues that they expect Witkoff to lead efforts to see whether a diplomatic accommodation is possible. Asked after this report was first published if he would put Witkoff in charge of Iran policy, the president said on Thursday: “He’s certainly someone I would use. He’s done a fantastic job . . . Steve has a wonderful way about him.”

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