Donald Trump is returning to Washington for a security meeting Credit: Manuel Balce Ceneta
Donald Trump tried to arrange a meeting between senior US and Iranian officials but was unable to do so because Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could not be contacted. The US news website Axios reports that Mr Trump worked with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, to set up negotiations between the US and Iran in Istanbul this week.
Mr Trump was willing to send JD Vance and Steve Witkoff, the White House envoy, or even travel to Turkey himself if necessary in order to reach a deal.
The proposals were passed on to Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, and Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, who could not reach Khamenei for a sign-off, according to three US officials.
The Telegraph reported this week that Khamenei is being protected by an elite security unit and does not have access to his electronic devices.
Mr Trump is expected to convene his national security team in the White House Situation Room on Saturday evening to discuss whether to enter the conflict between Israel and Iran.
On Friday, Mr Trump told reporters that he will make a decision on whether to join the war within “two weeks”.
