Trump Questions Iran's Response to US Military Pressure
US President Donald Trump is expressing curiosity about why Iran has not yet "capitulated" despite the United States' military build-up in the Middle East, according to Steve Witkoff, the US president's special envoy.
Witkoff told Fox News on Saturday that Trump was "curious" about Iran's stance following his warning of a limited military strike if an agreement was not reached regarding Tehran's nuclear programme.
The US and its European allies suspect that Iran is advancing towards developing a nuclear weapon, a claim Iran denies.
Anti-Government Protests in Iran
Within Iran, anti-government protests took place at several universities over the weekend. These were the first rallies of such scale since the deadly crackdown in January, which resulted in thousands of deaths.
Trump's Envoy Comments on Iran's Position
In his interview with Fox News, Witkoff stated:
"I don't want to use the word 'frustrated'... because he 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."
"Why, under this sort of pressure, with the amount of seapower and naval power that we have over there, why haven't they come to us and said, 'We profess that we don't want a weapon, so here's what we're prepared to do?'"
"And yet it's hard to sort of get them to that place," Trump's envoy added.
Iran has not issued any public response to Witkoff's remarks.
Indirect Talks and Military Build-Up
Last Tuesday, US and Iranian officials conducted indirect talks in Switzerland aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear programme, with both sides indicating progress was made.
Despite this, Trump stated two days later that the world would learn "over the next, probably, 10 days" whether a deal with Iran would be finalized or if the US would proceed with military action.
In recent weeks, the US has increased its military presence near Iran. This deployment includes the world's largest warship, USS Gerald R Ford, which appears to be heading toward the region.
Additionally, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has been deployed, along with destroyers, combat ships, and fighter jets.
University Protests and Clashes in Tehran
In Iran, the BBC verified footage showing demonstrators marching on the campus of the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran on Saturday. The protesters were later seen clashing with government supporters.
Protests were also reported at other universities in Tehran and other locations, where students gathered to honor the thousands killed by authorities last month.
Casualty Figures from Protests
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana) reported confirming the deaths of at least 7,015 people during the recent wave of unrest, including 6,508 protesters, 226 children, and 214 individuals affiliated with the government. These figures were updated on 15 February.
Hrana also stated it is investigating an additional 11,744 reported deaths.
Iranian authorities reported late last month that more than 3,100 people had died, asserting that the majority were security personnel or bystanders attacked by "rioters."
