U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing why Tehran has not moved toward limiting its nuclear programme even as Washington expands its military presence across the Middle East.
His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Trump is not irritated but wants to know why diplomatic traction remains elusive.
In an interview on Fox News, Witkoff said: "I don't want to use the word 'frustrated,' because he understands he has plenty of alternatives, but he's curious as to why they haven't... I don't want to use the word 'capitulated,' but why they haven't capitulated."
He said the White House believes Iran should already be seeking a way forward.
"Why, under this pressure, with the amount of seapower and naval power over there, why haven't they come to us and said, 'We profess we don't want a weapon, so here's what we're prepared to do'? And yet it's sort of hard to get them to that place."
The current U.S. posture includes preparations for a potential multi-week air campaign, while Iran has issued its own warnings that U.S. bases would be targeted if Washington launches strikes.
American officials say Iran must abandon enriched uranium that could, in Washington's assessment, support weapons production, halt support for armed groups in the region and accept restrictions on its missile programme.
Tehran insists its nuclear work is peaceful and says some adjustments are possible, but only in exchange for lifting financial sanctions.
It rejects linking nuclear discussions to other files, such as missiles or regional activities.
Witkoff said: "They've been enriching well beyond the number that you need for civil nuclear. It's up to 60% (fissile purity).
They're probably a week away from having industrial, industrial grade bomb making material, and that's really dangerous."
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that both sides still hold different views on sanctions relief and the scope of any agreement.
Witkoff also confirmed he has met, at Trump's direction, with opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah.
He offered no details about the talks.
Pahlavi emerged as a focal point for parts of the opposition during last month's demonstrations, a wave of unrest in which thousands are believed to have been killed.
Earlier in February, he said U.S. military intervention in Iran could save lives and urged Washington not to prolong negotiations with the country's clerical leaders.
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