Democracy Dies in Darkness

As Iran talks resume, White House fends off bombing hawks

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff heads to Rome for a second round of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. But some Trump aides and Israeli officials are calling for more-aggressive measures.

April 18, 2025 at 11:51 a.m. EDTToday at 11:51 a.m. EDT

8 min

President Donald Trump listens as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during an Oval Office meeting this month. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

By Karen DeYoung

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A battle within President Donald Trump’s inner circle over what to do about Iran has been resolved for the moment by Trump’s decision to pursue diplomacy with Tehran.

But as U.S. and Iranian negotiators head toward a second round of talks Saturday in Rome, it remains unclear what outcome Trump is seeking and how long he is prepared to wait for it. And in both Tehran and Jerusalem, as in Washington, divisions remain over the wisdom of talking versus fighting.

What readers are saying

The comments reflect significant internal divisions within the Trump administration regarding the approach to Iran's nuclear program. Many commenters express skepticism about the influence of Israel and its desire for the U.S. to take military action against Iran, suggesting that... Show more

This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.

What readers are saying

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