Steve Witkoff

Built World

Directed to continue Iran negotiations alongside JD Vance and Jared Kushner; participated in Switzerland talks June 21; active in Oman talks July 10–11

The US and Iran have traded strikes every day since Trump declared the ceasefire 'over' on July 8 — US Central Command has now hit more than 300 Iranian military targets across three rounds of strikes. The IRGC attacked commercial ships, struck US bases in five Gulf countries, and formally declared the Strait of Hormuz closed.

Updated 10 hours ago

Force in Play

Reported by Axios as lead US negotiator in May 2026 direct talks with Iran, co-negotiating 14-point MOU alongside Jared Kushner

The US hit more than 400 Iranian military targets across four strike waves since July 7, with Monday's fourth round striking sites in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Jask, and Qeshm Island. The IRGC retaliated against US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Oman, claiming to have destroyed HIMARS launchers in Kuwait and radar systems in Oman. Brent crude rose roughly 4% to about $79 a barrel, its highest since June 22.

Updated 13 hours ago

Force in Play

Leading U.S. peace mediation efforts

On June 29, Putin publicly acknowledged that Ukrainian drone strikes are causing fuel shortages across Russia—the first time the Kremlin has detailed the campaign's domestic toll. Russia responded two days later with a barrage of 74 missiles and 496 drones that killed at least 21 people in Kyiv, Moscow citing the oil infrastructure attacks as justification.

Updated Jul 2

Force in Play

Met Qatar PM in Doha July 1 alongside Kushner; indirect talks concluded July 2 with goods-purchase mechanism and violation channel agreed; next round after Khamenei funeral

Indirect talks in Doha closed July 2 with two concrete outputs: a mechanism to buy goods using part of Iran's frozen $6 billion in Qatar, and a channel for flagging MOU violations through Qatar. Both delegations stayed in separate rooms; Qatar and Pakistan shuttled between them. Iran's nuclear program was not substantively addressed, despite Trump telling reporters on July 1 that 'the denuclearization of Iran is moving along well.'

Updated Jul 2

Force in Play

Leading Phase 2 implementation of Gaza peace plan

Ran Gvili's remains were recovered on January 26, 2026, ending the hostage crisis. Phase Two of Trump's peace plan fell apart by April: Hamas rejected the Board of Peace's disarmament proposal, and the Palestinian technocratic committee (NCAG) has no presence in Gaza. The Board of Peace has pledged $17 billion for reconstruction but has not disbursed a single dollar from its World Bank account.

Updated May 31

Force in Play

Concluded failed negotiations before strikes began

For four decades, the United States and Iran avoided direct, large-scale war. That changed on February 28, 2026, when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, military infrastructure, and leadership compounds, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The assault followed collapsed indirect nuclear talks mediated by Oman. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on US bases in the Gulf, oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and the US Embassy in Riyadh.

Updated May 30

Rule Changes

Participated in Islamabad talks April 11–12 alongside VP Vance and Kushner; criticized by current and former diplomats as lacking technical depth for nuclear negotiations; maintains direct message contact with Araghchi

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion—coordinated airstrikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and senior leadership. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes; his son Mojtaba was elected as the new Supreme Leader on March 8 but hasn't appeared publicly, reportedly recovering from injuries sustained in the same strike. Iran retaliated by closing the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for 20 percent of world oil trade. Pakistan brokered a ceasefire on April 8, but Iran re-closed the Strait on April 18 after the United States refused to lift its naval blockade imposed following failed peace talks.

Updated May 29

Rule Changes

Leading American negotiating team in Iran talks

Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Washington this week with a single message: any deal with Iran must go beyond uranium. After three hours in the Oval Office on February 11, President Trump emerged saying 'nothing definitive' was reached—but negotiations would continue.

Updated May 27

Rule Changes

Actively brokering peace talks between Russia and Ukraine

The United States and Russia agreed on February 5, 2026, to reestablish high-level military communication that had been suspended since fall 2021. The channel gives General Alexus Grynkewich (commander of U.S. European Command) a direct line to General Valery Gerasimov (chief of Russia's General Staff). It restores a mechanism designed to prevent miscalculation between two nuclear-armed militaries operating in proximity across Europe, the Arctic, and the Black Sea.

Updated May 27

Rule Changes

Leading diplomatic outreach for Board of Peace membership

The United Nations has been the primary venue for international conflict resolution since 1945. On January 22, 2026, President Trump launched an alternative: the Board of Peace, a body he chairs for life where permanent membership costs $1 billion and he holds sole veto power.

Updated May 22

Rule Changes

Announced Phase Two launch

Hamas governed Gaza since June 2007, but on January 15, 2026, a 15-member committee of Palestinian technocrats met in Cairo—none affiliated with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. The next day, Trump announced the Board of Peace's leadership: himself as chair, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK PM Tony Blair, Jared Kushner (his son-in-law), special envoy Steve Witkoff, and others. By January 17, Netanyahu's office had declared the arrangement to be 'not coordinated with Israel and contrary to its policy.'

Updated May 21

Force in Play

Leading phase two ceasefire negotiations

A severe winter storm struck Gaza on January 13, 2026, collapsing war-damaged walls and killing at least 8 Palestinians, including a 7-day-old infant, a 1-year-old boy, and a 4-year-old girl who died of hypothermia. Cold-weather deaths have reached at least 23 since winter began; over 1.1 million people need shelter and 81% of Gaza's structures are destroyed or damaged.

Updated May 20

Force in Play

In active communication with Iranian Foreign Minister

Iran's nationwide uprising, triggered by December 28, 2025 bazaar marches in Tehran, was crushed in what may be the deadliest massacre in the Islamic Republic's history. An internet blackout that began January 8 was partially restored around January 17-18, though connectivity remains severely restricted. Early reports confirmed 572 deaths; after internet restoration in late January, the Human Rights Activists News Agency documented at least 6,126 deaths, with estimates ranging from 12,000 to over 36,500.

Updated May 20

Force in Play

Leading U.S. peace negotiation efforts

Russia continues massive winter strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilians amid advancing trilateral peace talks. A week after the February 4-5 Abu Dhabi round yielded a 314-POW exchange and US-Russia military dialogue, Russia launched major attacks including 408 drones/39 missiles on February 6-7 targeting energy substations and the February 13 assault with 219 drones/24 missiles killing one in Odesa. Zelenskyy accused Russia of bad faith while confirming a third round of talks for next week.

Updated May 19

Force in Play

Leading peace talks with Russia on behalf of Trump administration

On December 28, President Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced 90% agreement on a revised 20-point peace framework at Mar-a-Lago. The next day Russia claimed Ukraine attacked Putin's residence with drones—a charge Kyiv denies, calling it fabricated to sabotage talks. The alleged attack exposes how fragile negotiations are: while diplomats inch toward compromise, the shadow war continues and Moscow weaponizes accusations to 'toughen' its bargaining position. The real question after nearly four years of invasion is whether either side will stop fighting long enough to sign a deal.

Updated May 16

Rule Changes

Leading negotiations with Ukraine and Russia on the U.S. proposal

Zelensky just did something he once treated as untouchable: he offered to drop Ukraine's NATO bid. Not as surrender, but as a trade—Kyiv gives up the alliance path, and the West gives Ukraine legally binding protection strong enough to scare Moscow off for good.

Updated May 15

Built World

Traveling to Berlin to align a U.S.-backed proposal with Kyiv and Europe

Ukrainian officials say more than 450 drones and about 30 missiles hit energy and port infrastructure overnight. Odesa and surrounding areas went dark.

Updated May 15

Force in Play

Co‑author and shuttle diplomat for the U.S. peace framework

In early 2025, Trump launched an aggressive push to "end the war" in Ukraine. He tied resumed military aid and intelligence sharing to Kyiv's acceptance of a U.S.-drafted peace framework that includes territorial concessions to Russia and long-term limits on Ukraine's sovereignty.

Updated May 10

Force in Play

Lead U.S. negotiator coordinating parallel tracks with Russia and Ukraine; reporting progress to Trump

By late December 2025, the controversial 28-point plan was replaced by a revised 20-point framework. Zelenskyy said it was '90 percent agreed' with Washington, with '100 percent' consensus on U.S.–Ukraine security guarantees.

Updated May 10

Force in Play

Trump’s principal negotiator with the Kremlin on the peace framework

In late 2025, U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg said a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine was "really, really close." Two disputes remain: the fate of Donbas, especially Ukrainian-held areas in Donetsk, and the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant (Russia-occupied and the largest in Europe).

Updated May 10

Force in Play

Trump's point person for implementing the Gaza ceasefire and political plan; announced phase two launch

Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel triggered a war that lasted more than two years. A U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect October 10, 2025. At least 460 Palestinians have been killed and over 1,200 injured since the truce began.

Updated May 10