White House officials indicated Donald Trump is considering having Arab nations finance a potential conflict with Iran, while also noting ongoing, “successful” negotiations.
Trump Considers Funding Model
Karoline Leavitt, responding to questions during a press briefing, stated that while she wouldn’t preempt the former president, Trump is contemplating asking Arab countries to cover the costs of a war with Iran. “I think the president would be very interested in calling on them to do so,” she said, adding that more details would be forthcoming.
Private Iranian Concessions
Leavitt also asserted that Iran’s private communications with U.S. officials differ from its public statements, and that Tehran has privately agreed to some of Washington’s demands. “Despite all the regime’s public declarations and false reporting, talks are ongoing. And they are going well,” she emphasized.
Trump Declares “Regime Change” Complete
Trump threatened that Iranian power plants and oil tankers would be destroyed if Iran doesn’t open the Strait of Hormuz. He then suggested that “regime change” in Iran is already complete, stating that previous regimes have been “decimated” and “destroyed,” and that the current leadership is “very reasonable.”
U.S. Remains Cautious
Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that the new Iranian leaders, who he described as having a “more reasonable vision for the future,” would be a “good thing,” but cautioned that the U.S. must also “be prepared for the possibility, or even the probability, that that is not the case.”
Verification and Consequences
Leavitt warned that any private assurances from Iran to the U.S. will be verified, and that if Iran doesn’t uphold its commitments, President Trump has outlined military consequences. “If they don’t, the president has certainly laid out the military consequences that the Iranian regime will face if they don’t keep the word that we’re hearing behind closed doors,” she stated.
