Foreign policy analysts are questioning President Donald Trump’s decision to have his top envoys handle negotiations on two major international crises during a single day in Geneva, Switzerland.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner conducted separate discussions Tuesday addressing both Iran’s nuclear program and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The ambitious diplomatic schedule has sparked debate among experts about whether the approach can effectively address either complex situation.
Trump, who has repeatedly claimed credit for ending various conflicts during his presidency, appears focused on securing additional international agreements as he pursues recognition including a potential Nobel Peace Prize.
The rapid organization of both negotiations in Geneva has drawn criticism from foreign policy professionals who question the strategy’s effectiveness.
“Trump seems more focused on quantity over quality instead of the difficult detailed work of diplomacy,” said Brett Bruen, a former Obama administration foreign policy adviser who now leads the Global Situation Room strategic consultancy. “Tackling both issues at the same time in the same place doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
The Iran discussions began the diplomatic marathon, with the American delegation engaging in indirect talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi through Omani mediators. The 3.5-hour session took place at Oman’s diplomatic facility under tight security.
Both parties suggested modest advancement occurred during the nuclear program discussions, though no immediate resolution appeared likely for the prolonged dispute.
Trump’s continued military buildup near Iran signals that military action remains a possibility while diplomatic efforts continue, potentially maintaining regional tensions and concerns about broader conflict escalation.
Following the Iran meetings, the U.S. team immediately relocated to the luxury Intercontinental hotel for Ukraine-Russia negotiations. These talks, scheduled for two days, address the conflict Trump previously promised to resolve within 24 hours during his 2024 campaign.
Observers held minimal expectations for significant progress in ending what represents Europe’s largest military conflict since World War II concluded in 1945.
An Iranian leadership source expressed skepticism about Washington’s commitment to either diplomatic effort, given the simultaneous approach.
“The approach risks overstretch,” the official told Reuters anonymously. “It resembles an emergency room with two critically ill patients and a single doctor unable to give either case sustained attention, increasing the likelihood of failure.”
Mohanad Hajj-Ali from the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut emphasized the high stakes involved in Iranian diplomacy.
“Having a team of Witkoff and Kushner tasked with resolving all the world’s problems is, frankly, a shocking reality,” he stated.
Several analysts expressed concerns that both negotiators, who come from Trump’s New York real estate background, may lack sufficient expertise to match experienced diplomats like Araqchi and their Russian counterparts in these intricate international disputes.
Notably absent from the Geneva meetings was Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s chief diplomat recognized for his foreign policy expertise.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly defended the administration’s efforts when asked for comment, stating Trump and his team “have done more than anyone to bring both sides together to stop the killing and deliver a peace deal” regarding Ukraine. She criticized anonymous “critics” of the president’s methods but did not address specific questions about the Geneva approach.
Administration officials have consistently supported Witkoff and Kushner’s roles, pointing to their negotiation abilities, Trump’s confidence in them, and the limitations of conventional diplomatic methods over time.
Witkoff, frequently dubbed the “envoy for everything” due to his extensive responsibilities, helped broker the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement in Gaza last year, though progress toward permanent resolution has stalled. His diplomatic work with Iran and Russia has shown limited success to date.
During Trump’s first presidency, Kushner led the Abraham Accords initiative, which established historic diplomatic relationships between Israel and several Arab nations. However, the agreement has seen little advancement since Trump’s return to office approximately 13 months ago.
Some experts argue that Trump’s reduction of the State Department and National Security Council staff, including the departure of many experienced personnel, has weakened Kushner and Witkoff’s diplomatic capabilities.
“We’ve seen a hollowing-out of our diplomatic bench,” former Obama foreign policy adviser Bruen explained. “So there’s a question of whether we still have the right people to work on these big issues.”
