US forced toward concessions after Israel-backed pressure campaign backfires on Iran

TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — The Trump administration has quietly begun mapping out potential peace negotiations with Iran, as three weeks of heavy US-Israeli bombardment have failed to achieve the political, military or economic collapse Washington predicted at the start of the war.

Senior officials now concede that further escalation risks deepening a strategic setback already visible across the region, says an Axios report.

According to US officials, Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have opened discussions on what a diplomatic track could look like, even as the White House publicly claims it is still “winding down” the conflict.

Internally, officials expect at least several more weeks of fighting, but admit the current campaign has not produced the leverage they anticipated.

Washington’s proposed framework centers on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and imposing sweeping restrictions on Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

These include a five-year freeze on missile development, zero uranium enrichment, dismantling nuclear facilities at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow, strict foreign monitoring of all centrifuge-related components, regional arms-control agreements with a missile cap of 1,000 kilometers, and ending support to allied groups in Lebanon, Yemen and Gaza.

But diplomats acknowledge Iran has rejected most of these demands in the past — and is even less likely to accept them after weeks of Israeli and US strikes on Iranian cities, energy sites, and civilian infrastructure.

Tehran is insisting on a ceasefire, guarantees that attacks will not resume, and compensation for devastation caused by the US-Israeli assault.

With no direct talks underway, Egypt, Qatar and the UK have been relaying messages between the two sides. Regional mediators have informed Washington that Iran is open to negotiations but will not enter discussions while facing ongoing bombardment.

Iran’s foreign minister has told counterparts that the Strait of Hormuz will stabilize only when US and Israeli attacks stop entirely.

Despite public bravado, Trump officials are now debating how to frame concessions without acknowledging failure.

One US official said there may be space to negotiate over Iran’s frozen assets, suggesting Washington could rebrand compensation as “returning withheld funds” rather than reparations — an attempt to solve political optics after a coercion campaign that has openly backfired.

Internally, US officials are also struggling to identify who in Iran holds the authority to negotiate. While Abbas Araghchi played a role in past talks, Trump’s advisers privately dismiss him as a messenger who cannot deliver binding commitments.

Washington is also searching for a mediator other than Oman, preferring Qatar due to its recent diplomatic roles — although the Qataris have signaled they do not want to be the primary channel this time.

Trump’s advisers are preparing for talks to materialize sooner rather than later, recognizing that the combined US-Israeli strategy — built on maximum force, mass bombardment and economic pressure — has not produced the collapse they forecast.

Instead, Iran has maintained operational command, retaliated across multiple fronts, and driven energy markets into turmoil, amplifying political pressure on Washington.