President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, says he “probably” will head to Israel next week, telling CNBC on Tuesday that a trip is likely as Washington and Jerusalem coordinate on planning around the conflict with Iran. Witkoff, a close Trump adviser who has been working a grab bag of diplomatic tracks for the administration, stressed that the travel was not locked in, offering no firm itinerary. Even so, the possibility of his visit adds another senior U.S. player to a regional scene that is shifting by the day on both security and diplomacy.
Witkoff’s comments came in an interview later summarized by multiple outlets after his CNBC appearance. Reporters said the prospective trip would center on coordination over “Iran war plans,” a phrase that quickly circulated in coverage of the segment. According to Reuters, he framed the visit as likely rather than confirmed.
What Witkoff Told Interviewers
During the interview, Witkoff said recent operations had left “almost all” of Iran’s uranium enrichment capability damaged and added that it remained unclear whether Tehran would decide to enter talks. Those remarks were reported by Ynet. He also said Russia had denied sharing intelligence on U.S. military assets, describing that as a point that came up on a call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Taken together, his comments sketched an administration trying to braid military pressure with parallel diplomatic outreach, even as key actors insist they are not trading sensitive information.
Why a Visit Would Matter
Witkoff has effectively become an informal troubleshooter for the White House, traveling frequently to the Middle East and beyond to push ceasefire talks, hostage negotiations and other diplomatic efforts. The Washington Post has detailed his role and the unusual portfolio he carries for someone outside the traditional foreign policy establishment. Israeli media have likewise chronicled his meetings with senior officials and the close, if sometimes awkward, coordination that follows his visits. With that track record, even a “probable” trip from Witkoff draws scrutiny, both for what it might signal to allies and for how it could shape operational planning on the ground.
Any visit would come as Congress presses the White House for briefings and argues over how far the executive branch can go in the widening confrontation with Iran. Lawmakers from both parties have pushed for votes on war-powers measures, according to PBS NewsHour, a reminder that domestic politics are never far from the foreign policy spotlight. In that context, Witkoff’s prospective trip could be as much about reassuring allies and clarifying U.S. objectives as about nitty-gritty battlefield logistics.
For now, Witkoff’s comment stands as a likely-but-unconfirmed travel plan, with officials keeping both timing and schedule deliberately vague. Reporters and analysts will be watching closely to see whether the White House rolls out firm dates or announces public meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Israeli security chiefs in the days ahead.
