Edited by: Fern Sidman

President Donald Trump convened a high-level national security meeting in the White House Situation Room on Tuesday morning, as the administration intensifies efforts to forge a nuclear deal with Iran amid growing tensions and diverging internal opinions, as was reported by Axios.

According to two sources with direct knowledge of the meeting, the classified session brought together all of Trump’s top national security and foreign policy officials, with the agenda focused squarely on shaping the U.S. position ahead of the next round of nuclear talks with Tehran, scheduled for Saturday, as per the information provided in The Axios report. The moment marks a critical juncture for the administration’s diplomatic strategy — one marked by both outreach and hardline rhetoric.

Just prior to the Situation Room meeting, Trump spoke directly with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman, whose nation has historically played the role of quiet mediator between Washington and Tehran. Axios reported that according to the Omani state news agency, the two leaders “discussed ways to back these negotiations to achieve the desired outcomes,” signaling strong bilateral interest in progressing toward a deal.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the call and reiterated the president’s position: “President Trump emphasized to the Omani Sultan the need for Iran to end its nuclear program through negotiations,” Leavitt told reporters, per Axios.

According to Axios, the Situation Room meeting featured a full roster of Trump’s national security leadership including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Trump’s Iran envoy Steve Witkoff, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

The gathering highlighted the strategic weight of the issue and the political balancing act now confronting the Trump administration.

Sources told Axios the meeting was marked by intense internal debate about the path forward. A core divide has emerged between those advocating for pragmatic diplomacy and those pushing for a maximalist, zero-concessions strategy.

Vice President JD Vance and envoy Steve Witkoff believe a viable diplomatic solution is achievable and are willing to entertain limited compromises to secure verifiable restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program, the Axios report said. By contrast, Secretary Rubio and National Security Adviser Waltz are deeply skeptical, urging a tougher stance that offers Iran minimal concessions and maximum pressure.

Trump himself remains a wildcard. While he has publicly said he supports a diplomatic resolution, he has also threatened the use of military force on multiple occasions. “If we have to do something very harsh, we will do it,” Trump warned Monday, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, as was indicated in the Axios report.  “Iran might be tapping us along in these negotiations,” he added, casting doubt on Tehran’s sincerity.

In an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News Monday night, envoy Steve Witkoff characterized the first round of talks in Oman as “positive,” suggesting progress had been made. However, the Axios report said that he emphasized several non-negotiable conditions the U.S. would require in any deal: Iran must halt enrichment of uranium to 20% and 60% levels, which approach weapons-grade, enrichment at 3.67%, the limit required for civilian nuclear energy, may be allowed under stringent verification mechanisms, and ballistic missile development and nuclear detonation trigger technology would be strictly prohibited under the deal.

Witkoff emphasized that any agreement would have to include rigorous inspection protocols and verification to ensure Iran’s compliance, particularly on enrichment levels and dual-use technologies.

As the Axios report noted, the administration is threading a needle between its ongoing “maximum pressure” campaign and the opening for negotiated diplomacy. Press Secretary Leavitt reinforced that line on Tuesday, saying, “The maximum pressure campaign on Iran continues, but the president made it clear he wants to see dialogue and discussion with Iran while making clear Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon.”

With the next round of talks days away, the question remains whether Trump’s team can present a unified front — or whether internal discord will limit the administration’s diplomatic flexibility.

The backdrop to these talks includes deep regional anxiety, Israeli security concerns, and domestic political implications for Trump as he navigates a tumultuous re-election campaign. Should a deal be reached that reins in Iran’s nuclear capabilities while averting military conflict, it could mark a major geopolitical win. Failure, however, could push both nations closer to confrontation.

As the report at Axios highlighted, the administration’s internal divisions, the mixed messages from Trump himself, and Iran’s ambiguous posture will make the next several days pivotal not just for U.S.-Iran relations, but for the future stability of the Middle East.