During a recent briefing with Senate Republicans, U.S. envoy Witkoff discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts with Iran concerning its nuclear program, highlighting concerns about military strikes should negotiations fail. Witkoff is scheduled to arrive in Oman on Sunday for the sixth round of U.S.-Iran talks.
The American official expressed worries regarding Iran’s steadily increasing ballistic missile capabilities and noted that there are fears Israel’s air defenses might be overwhelmed by a barrage of Iranian missiles. Indeed, following threats from Iran to target U.S. assets in response to any action against its nuclear ambitions, the U.S. has reassessed the safety of its diplomats and military families in the region, leading to evacuations.
Previously, in October 2024, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel, and further attacks were carried out in April, though many were intercepted by Israeli defenses aided by U.S. support. However, Iranian missile production has surged, reportedly reaching around 50 missiles a month, aimed at outpacing Israel’s interceptor capabilities.
This backdrop of escalating tensions and uncertainty about the progress of nuclear negotiations has led to fears that Israel may launch preemptive strikes against Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated to U.S. President Donald Trump in a recent call that military actions could occur, although Trump suggested that such strikes do not appear imminent.
The upcoming talks could prove decisive in determining whether a diplomatic solution is feasible or if conflict will arise, with Israeli officials cautioning that military action might take place unless Iran agrees to halt its production of fissile materials, which could be used in nuclear weapon creation.
The situation remains volatile, and there is hope that continued diplomatic efforts can resolve the tensions and prevent further escalations in the region.