US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff has continued his direct and indirect communications with Iranian officials, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said when asked for an update on a meeting between the sides that US President Donald Trump said would take place this week, Times of Israel reports.
Asked about the status of the Gaza hostage talks, after Trump declared a deal would be reached this week, Leavitt does not provide any specifics, asserting that ending the war and releasing the hostages remains a top priority for the administration.
She also confirms that Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is in Washington for meetings with top White House officials this week.
Meanwhile CBS News' Imtiaz Tyab spoke with Iran's Foreign Minister in an exclusive interview.
It was Abbas Aragchi's first interview with an American media outlet inside Iran since the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites nine days ago.
The interview was conducted in what's known as the "hall of mirrors" inside Iran's Foreign Ministry.
Aragchi said "we need more time" before talks re-start and that "the doors of diplomacy will never slam shut".
