Trump’s Diplomacy Plan: Bomb Gulf, Then Maybe Chat Over Tea

KEY POINTS

•Trump’s administration told Iran it’s open to talks amid a Gulf military buildup ordered to deter strikes, sources said.
•Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar are coordinating to organize a meeting between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and senior Iranian officials in Ankara this week.
•Iranian officials called the discussions ‘fruitful,’ but Supreme Leader Khamenei warned of a regional war if hostilities begin.

In a plot twist worthy of a Netflix thriller, the Trump administration is juggling a massive Gulf military buildup while simultaneously whispering sweet nothings about peace talks to Iran. Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, apparently playing UN matchmakers, are hustling to organize a cozy sit-down between Steve Witkoff (White House envoy) and Iran’s VIPs in Ankara. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi calls diplomacy ‘fruitful,’ which sounds like code for 'please don’t blow us up.' Trump, speaking from Air Force One on Saturday night, gave the diplomatic pep talk of the century: ‘They’re talking to us. Seriously.’ On the flip side, Supreme Leader Khamenei is channeling his inner peacemaker–minus the peace part—declaring war if the U.S. even *thinks* about it. Meanwhile, Israeli general Eyal Zamir slid into Washington for secret talks with U.S. generals about defensive and offensive war plans, because what’s a potential regional explosion without a little prep party?