Overview

• Steve Bannon held a private lunch with President Trump hours before the announcement, reinforcing his anti-interventionist advice.
• Trump said there is a substantial chance for negotiations with Tehran before he makes a final decision.
• US envoy Steve Witkoff will not participate in the weekend’s European-Iranian diplomatic talks.
• White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt called on Americans to trust the president’s judgment as his team debates further Middle East engagement.
• Leavitt reaffirmed that Trump has long insisted Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.