US diplomacy in crisis: Iran talks expose conflicts of interest
The US-Iran negotiations, led by the vice president and two real estate investors with cryptocurrency ties, highlight a lack of professional diplomacy and potential conflicts of interest.
The United States is conducting what may be the most critical negotiations of the second Trump administration – talks with Iran – led by the vice president and two real estate investors with side businesses in cryptocurrency. Jared Kushner and Steven Witkoff lack traditional diplomatic backgrounds: Kushner gained foreign policy experience only through his marriage to Donald Trump’s daughter, while Witkoff’s main achievement before being appointed US Middle East envoy was financing and repositioning over 70 properties.
Kushner’s investment firm Affinity Partners manages over $5 billion in assets, the majority from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, with additional holdings from the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. In March 2026, during the US-Iran war, The New York Times reported that Kushner continued seeking investments from Gulf states.
Witkoff invested seed money in 2024 in World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture launched by members of the Trump family. Later, a 49% stake in that venture was sold to an Emirati company linked to the UAE National Security Adviser. The deal closed on January 16, 2025, four days before Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The US Constitution’s emoluments clause prohibits government officials from accepting gifts or payments from foreign states without congressional consent. Experts note that Kushner and Witkoff’s financial ties to Middle Eastern countries create clear conflicts of interest, particularly in negotiations with Iran.
Both men have longstanding relationships with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Kushner’s family has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to organizations supporting the Israeli military. Kushner has described Gaza as an investment opportunity, and his “Project Sunrise” envisions transforming Gaza’s coastline into luxury hotels.
This situation, where negotiators are financially beholden to regional states while simultaneously negotiating with them, raises concerns about the durability of any agreements. Professional diplomats typically act in their nation’s interests, but Kushner and Witkoff’s business interests may influence their decisions. The result could be deals that serve personal interests rather than long-term US strategic goals.
