The US president, and his Turkish counterpart, tried quietly to arrange a meeting between senior US and Istanbul officials this week.
The effort collapsed when Iran’s supreme leader – hidden because of fears of murder – could not be approached to approve it, citing three US officials and a source with immediate knowledge of the matter.
The new details of this backstage effort reveal the extent to which Trump was pressing for a direct meeting with the Iranians – even offering himself, if needed – in the hope of reaching a nuclear deal and avoid US military intervention.
In the days that followed, Trump and White House officials became less confident that a diplomatic solution was possible – and more convinced that the US would have to participate in the war to eliminate the Iranian nuclear program, according to US officials.
Trump reiterated on Friday that he would make a decision on whether he would join the war in the next “two weeks”, saying he wants “time to see if people will come to their coins or not”.
“I give them a time. We will see what this time period is. And I would say that two weeks would be the greatest, “Trump told reporters.
The phone call that made Trump leave the G7 meeting
On Saturday night, Trump is expected to discuss the war between Israel and Iran, who has entered his ninth day.
Trump received a phone call from Erdogan on Monday while meeting with G7 leaders in Canada. Erdogan proposed the hospitality of a meeting in Constantinople the next day between US and Iranian officials to investigate a diplomatic solution in the war, three US officials and a source with immediate knowledge told Axios.
Trump agreed and told Erdogan that he was willing to send Vice President Vance and White House envoy Steve Whitkov – and even travel to Turkey himself to meet with Iranian President Massoud Pezkiani – if necessary.
They did not find Hameni
A White House official said in the hours before Erdogan’s phone call, Trump received “signals” from the Iranians through other backstage channels that they wanted to meet. While Trump’s personal involvement was discussed, the official said, the most serious plan was to send Vans and Whitkov.
Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan then conveyed the proposal to Pezkian and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakzi, sources said.
Two US officials said Pescian and Arakzi tried to get in touch with the top leader of Iran’s Agiotalah Ali Hameni to obtain his approval. But Hameni, who is hidden for fear of being murdered by Israel, could not contact him.
After several hours, the Iranian side informed the Turks that they could not get the signature of Hameni. Turkey then said in the US that the meeting was canceled, an US official said.
