AI-Powered News AnalysisCompare coverage across the political spectrum
Back to Dashboard
Trump curious why Iran has not 'capitulated', US envoy Witkoff says

Trump curious why Iran has not 'capitulated', US envoy Witkoff says

US envoy Steve Witkoff says the president is puzzled why Iran has not yet compromised in the face of a major American military build-up nearby.

February 22, 2026 at 04:35 PM Original source
12 agencies covered this story

Coverage by Political Leaning

See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story

Left
0 articles
No coverage
Lean Left
3 articles
Center
7 articles
Lean Right
2 articles
Right
0 articles
No coverage

Notable Quotes

"I don't want to use the word 'frustrated'... because he [Trump] understands he's got plenty of alternatives, but he's curious as to why they haven't... I don't want to use the word 'capitulated', but why they haven't capitulated."

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"I believe there was still a chance the dispute could be solved diplomatically 'based on a win-win game'."

— Abbas Araghchi , Politician

"There would be a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalising the deal."

— Badr Albusaidi , Politician

"I don’t want to use the word ‘frustrated’, because he understands he has plenty of alternatives, but he’s curious as to why they haven’t…"

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"Iran had at most 15 days to make a deal on concerns starting with its nuclear programme."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"I don't want to use the word 'capitulated', but why they haven't capitulated."

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"They're probably a week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material, and that's really dangerous."

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"US military intervention in Iran could save lives."

— Reza Pahlavi , Politician

"He's curious as to why they haven't... I don't want to use ​the word 'capitulated,' but why they haven't capitulated."

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"They've been enriching well beyond the number that you need for civil nuclear. It's up to 60% (fissile purity)."

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"I don't want to use the word 'frustrated,' because he understands he has plenty of alternatives, but he's curious as to why they haven't... I don't want to use the word 'capitulated,' but why they haven't capitulated."

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"They've been enriching well beyond the number that you need for civil nuclear. It's up to 60% (fissile purity)."

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"The president is puzzled why Iran has not yet compromised."

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"I don’t want to use the word ‘frustrated,’ because he understands he has plenty of alternatives, but he’s curious as to why they haven’t... I don’t want to use the word ‘capitulated,’ but why they haven’t capitulated."

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"Iran had at most 15 days to make a deal on concerns starting with its nuclear programme."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"[Trump is curious] why under this sort of pressure with the amount of naval power that we have over there, why they haven't come to us and said, ‘We profess that we don't want a weapon, so here's what we're prepared to do.’"

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"better negotiate a fair deal"

— Donald Trump , Politician

"Iran has not 'offered any suspension, and the US side has not asked for zero enrichment.'"

— Abbas Araghchi , Politician

""I don't want to use the word 'capitulated,' but why they haven't capitulated.""

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

""They've been enriching well beyond the number that you need for civil nuclear.""

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"the president is puzzled why Iran has not yet compromised in the face of a major American military build-up nearby."

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"They're probably a week away from having industrial, industrial-grade bomb-making material, and that's really dangerous."

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"I don't want to use the word 'frustrated,' because he understands he has plenty of alternatives, but he's curious as to why they haven't capitulated."

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"Tehran would not yield to coercion, calling for unity against external pressure."

— Masoud Pezeshkian , Politician

"I don't want to use the word 'capitulated', but why they haven't capitulated."

— Steve Witkoff , Executive

"I believe there was still a chance the dispute could be solved diplomatically 'based on a win-win game'."

— Abbas Araghchi , Politician

"There would be a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalising the deal."

— Badr Albusaidi , Politician

All Coverage

BBC Newsvia rss 3 quotes 3 persons

US envoy Steve Witkoff says the president is puzzled why Iran has not yet compromised in the face of a major American military build-up nearby.

100%
Channel News Asiavia ai 3 quotes 2 persons

US President Donald Trump is curious as to why Iran has not yet 'capitulated' and agreed to curb its nuclear programme, as Washington builds up its military capability in the Middle East, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said.

80%
Al-Monitorvia ai 2 quotes 1 person

US President Donald Trump is curious as to why Iran has not yet 'capitulated' and agreed to curb its nuclear programme, as Washington builds up its military capability in the Middle East, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said.

80%
Ynetnewsvia ai 1 quote 1 person

Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, said Saturday that Trump is questioning why Iran has not agreed to a deal on its nuclear program.

80%
The Straits Timesvia ai 2 quotes 2 persons

In a Fox News interview with Mr Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara, Mr Witkoff said the president was “curious” about Iran’s position after he had warned them of severe consequences in the event they failed to strike a deal.

80%
Israel National Newsvia ai 3 quotes 3 persons

Trump’s Middle East envoy says the President is “curious" why Iran has not agreed to a nuclear deal despite US pressure.

80%
Khaleej Timesvia ai 2 quotes 1 person

US President Donald Trump is curious as to why Iran has not yet 'capitulated' and agreed to curb its nuclear programme, as Washington builds up its military capability in the Middle East, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said.

80%
India Todayvia ai 3 quotes 2 persons

Iran could be as little as a week away from producing weapons-grade nuclear bombs, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff warned. He also revealed that Trump is curious why Tehran has not yielded under mounting American military pressure amid fresh nuclear talks.

80%
Yahoo! Newsvia ai 3 quotes 3 persons

US President Donald Trump is questioning why Iran has not yet agreed to curb its nuclear program amid Washington's military buildup in the Middle East, according to US special envoy Steve Witkoff.

80%
Dawnvia ai 2 quotes 2 persons

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff stated that President Trump is curious why Iran hasn't agreed to curb its nuclear program amid US military pressure.

80%
Yahoo! Newsvia ai 2 quotes 1 person

US President Donald Trump is curious as to why Iran has not yet 'capitulated' and agreed to curb its nuclear programme, as Washington builds up its military capability in the Middle East, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said.

80%
The Economic Timesvia ai 1 quote 1 person

US President Donald Trump is curious as to why Iran has not yet 'capitulated' and agreed to curb its nuclear programme, as Washington builds up its military capability in the Middle East, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said.

80%