"US Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, announced that the United States has made progress toward establishing a new governing authority to replace Hamas in Gaza, while warning Iran that failure to reach a diplomatic agreement would leave it facing 'a bad alternative.' "We actually have succeeded - and the United States government has - in standing up a new government that will forever replace Hamas. That happened today," Witkoff said, speaking at the Israeli-American Council conference in Florida on Thursday. Asked about the prospect of military action against Iran, Witkoff said the United States was seeking a diplomatic solution but outlined four issues Washington expects Tehran to address. "Well, I hope there's a diplomatic resolution, I really do. There are four issues: nuclear enrichment, missiles; they have to cut back on their inventory; the actual material that they have, which is roughly 2,000 kilograms, is enriched anywhere between 3.67 per cent and 60 per cent. And the proxies, of course," he noted, adding that: "If we can solve those four problems diplomatically, then that would be a great resolution. And I think the alternative is a bad one." On Wednesday, Donald Trump said he would 'watch and see' when asked if military action against Iran was 'off the table'. He appeared to step back from the brink - after media reports suggested strikes might be imminent - and said "we've been told that the killing in Iran is stopping" and "there's no plan for executions". On Tuesday, Trump reiterated to Iranian protesters that 'help is on the way' - and told them to 'keep protesting'. He did not expand on what he meant by 'help' although the White House has said airstrikes are among the 'many' options. Protests have been ongoing in Iran since December, and intensified in recent days and weeks, with Iran accusing Trump of inflaming tensions - after he warned the authorities he could intervene in the event of a potential crackdown. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei claimed some rioters were destroying property to 'please' the US president."