United States President Donald Trump is stepping away from coercive rhetoric, according to Ali Shamkhani (pictured), political advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In a commentary for the government daily Iran on Saturday, Shamkhani stated that "Trump, despite his threats, has not resorted to military action against Iran."

He argued that the president is trying to project strength domestically after "failures" in Gaza, Yemen, Ukraine, and on economic issues. Shamkhani also suggested that the talks underway in Muscat could represent a "political turning point" for Trump. According to Iranian state media, the third round of technical nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States has started in the Omani capital.

Shamkhani emphasized that Iran remains committed to a strategy blending resistance with diplomacy, saying, "Iran has shown that just as it resists in the field, it also plays an active role in diplomacy."