Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy to talks with Iran, revealed President Donald Trump’s puzzlement over Tehran’s steadfastness. Speaking on Fox News with Lara Trump on Saturday, Witkoff said the president avoids the word “frustrated” but remains curious. He has plenty of alternatives, Witkoff added, yet wonders why Iran has not yielded under the weight of American naval might in the region.

“Why, under this pressure, with the amount of seapower and naval power over there, why haven’t they come to us and said, ‘We profess we don’t want a weapon, so here’s what we’re prepared to do’?” Witkoff asked. Washington dispatched two aircraft carriers, jets and weaponry to the Middle East this week. The moves backed Trump’s warnings of severe consequences without a deal.

U.S.-Iran discussions restarted in Geneva under Omani mediation. The talks seek to prevent military action. They follow Trump’s Thursday statement giving Iran at most 15 days to reach an agreement on its nuclear program and other issues.

Witkoff confirmed a recent meeting with Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah. The encounter took place at Trump’s direction. Pahlavi, who has lived outside Iran since before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, met the envoy though details stayed scarce. “I think he’s strong for his country, cares about his country,” Witkoff said. He stressed, however, that outcomes hinge on Trump’s policies.

Pahlavi addressed a Munich crowd last week. He declared readiness to lead Iran toward a secular democratic future. That came after Trump suggested regime change would benefit the country most.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced a draft U.S. agreement proposal within days. The talks persist even as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed Trump’s efforts Tuesday. Khamenei insisted the Islamic Republic would endure.

Western nations charge Iran with pursuing nuclear weapons. Tehran rejects the claim. It maintains enrichment rights for civilian energy. Iran pushes to lift sanctions crippling its economy. Those penalties fueled December anti-government protests.

Trump’s approach echoes his first-term maximum pressure campaign. That squeezed Iran economically while talks faltered. Current military deployments signal no letup. Witkoff’s remarks underscore impatience as deadlines loom.

Geneva remains the focal point. Envoys from both sides huddled there this week. Oman facilitates the delicate dialogue. Failure risks escalation in a volatile region already tense from proxy conflicts and oil route threats.

Pahlavi’s role draws attention. The Paris-based figure rallies opposition abroad. His shah father ruled until revolutionaries seized power in 1979. Trump name-checked him amid vows to upend Tehran’s leadership if needed.

Trump’s 15-day clock ticks. Araghchi’s draft could shift dynamics. Khamenei’s defiance sets the tone from Tehran. U.S. carriers prowl nearby waters. The standoff tests nerves on all sides.