Trump's New Diplomacy: Dealmakers Lead Iran, Russia Talks, Sideline Diplomats

• Donald Trump is relying on real estate developers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for high-stakes talks with Iran and Russia, sidelining traditional diplomats.
• This shift reflects Trump's preference for 'dealmakers' who prioritize flexibility, speed, and personal rapport over traditional diplomatic protocol and institutional knowledge.
• Witkoff and Kushner, both from real estate backgrounds, approach negotiations transactionally, a style reportedly welcomed by some foreign governments.
• Critics raise concerns about their lack of diplomatic experience, potential conflicts of interest, and the sidelining of deep institutional knowledge at critical moments.
• The strategy is a high-stakes experiment, pairing military pressure with Iran while taking a more mixed approach with Russia, with outcomes yet to be determined.