The White House says talks with Iran remain "productive" despite Iranian state media reporting a rejection of a reported U.S. 15‑point proposal. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that President Trump is prepared to "unleash hell" if Tehran refuses a deal. The administration has moved additional troops to the Gulf, left open the possibility of talks in Pakistan, and has postponed the president's China trip while maintaining a four‑to‑six‑week timeline for operations.
White House: Talks With Iran Ongoing As Trump Warns He Will "Unleash Hell" If No Deal
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran was looking for an 'exit ramp' from the war (Jim WATSON)(Jim WATSON/AFP/AFP)
The White House said on Wednesday that negotiations with Iran are continuing despite Iranian state media reporting Tehran had rejected a U.S. proposal to end the conflict. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the discussions as "productive," while warning that President Donald Trump is prepared to take far stronger action if no agreement is reached.
Iranian state broadcasters quoted an unnamed official saying the Islamic Republic had given a "negative" response to an outreach attributed to Mr. Trump as the Middle East war approached the four-week mark. U.S. and Israeli media have reported that the outreach was framed as a 15-point plan demanding major concessions from Tehran.
Leavitt said there were "elements of truth" in media descriptions of the plan but added that some reports were "not entirely factual." Several outlets have suggested the plan would require Iran to renounce any civilian nuclear rights and to dismantle parts of its ballistic missile capabilities.
When pressed about Washington's contact in Tehran, Leavitt did not identify a specific interlocutor. She referred to recent reports concerning Iran's leadership and noted that Mojtaba Khamenei, reportedly designated as a successor, has not been publicly visible. Media accounts have suggested Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliament speaker, may be serving as a U.S. interlocutor.
The press secretary also declined to confirm reports that senior U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, planned talks with Iranian representatives in Pakistan, which has been mentioned as a potential mediator.
"Unleash Hell" Warning
"If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before," Leavitt said. "President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again."
The White House indicated that U.S. forces are nearing what it calls the core objectives of "Operation Epic Fury." The administration has moved additional airborne troops and marines into the Gulf amid speculation that a broader ground operation could be ordered — for objectives variously described in media reports as securing oil facilities or the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned on X of the threat of an invasion of an Iranian island with support from an unnamed regional state, according to his post.
Meanwhile, the White House reiterated a previously stated four- to six-week timeline for current combat operations. Mr. Trump announced on Wednesday that his planned visit to China to meet Xi Jinping has been postponed to mid-May so he can remain in Washington during the military activities.
Reporting credited to dk/dw.
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