According to a report by Sky News on Friday, March 27, 2026, Steve Witkoff, a senior US official involved in Washington’s diplomatic efforts, has emphasized the need for a robust approach to resolving the ongoing conflict with Iran, warning that allowing Tehran to advance nuclear capabilities unchecked could destabilize the Middle East.
Speaking on the current US strategy, Witkoff highlighted the administration’s dual focus on diplomacy and military readiness. “I think the president wants a peace deal, but he also believes in and I believe in it too peace through strength,” he said. Witkoff added that applying pressure on Iran is essential to bring the country to the negotiating table, asserting that without leverage, diplomatic efforts are unlikely to succeed.
While the United States remains open to a negotiated settlement, Witkoff stressed that any diplomatic solution must include strict limits on Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Uranium enrichment is widely viewed as a critical step in the development of nuclear weapons, and preventing Iran from achieving weapons-grade levels is considered central to regional and global security. “We can’t have a second coming of North Korea in the Middle East,” Witkoff said, describing the scenario as “totally destabilizing to that region and to the world.”
Witkoff’s comments draw a direct parallel between Iran and North Korea, which successfully tested its first nuclear device in 2006 and has since conducted numerous missile tests, raising international concerns about proliferation and regional instability. The comparison underlines the US position that preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons is not only a regional security priority but also a global imperative.