Donald Trump and the Iran-Israel Standoff: Leavitt Discusses Current Status
Negotiations with European powers by Iran scheduled for this Friday; US administration perceives a substantial probability for renewed diplomatic discussions
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sheds light on President Donald Trump's deliberations over the U.S.'s role in the Iran-Israel conflict.
Following a week of speculation surrounding a potential US military strike against Iran in support of Israel's efforts to dismantle Iran's nuclear weapons program, Leavitt reveals there's a "significant chance" for dialogue.
This announcement comes as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly prepares to meet with European leaders in Geneva on Friday.
In the White House press briefing room Thursday, Leavitt confirmed that US and Iranian officials have engaged in six rounds of both direct and indirect negotiations during the Israel-Iran conflict, which initiated on June 13.
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However, Leavitt declined to confirm whether U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, overseeing the president's negotiations with Iran, would attend the meetings in Geneva.
Responding to a query from our Senior White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich about the possibility of Iranian leaders visiting the White House for negotiations, Leavitt remarked: "I'm not going to entertain hypotheticals, but as you heard from the president yesterday, they've expressed interest in doing so."
Ahead of the possibility of direct US involvement in the conflict, Leavitt relayed a message from the president stating, "Given the likelihood of negotiations with Iran that may or may not transpire in the near future, I'll make my decision whether or not to act within the next two weeks."
While she expressed Trump's hope for a diplomatic solution, she reiterated that he remains firm on terms that prohibit any uranium enrichment, a move that would bolster Iran's nuclear program, a stance opposing which Trump has long advocated.
Leavitt underscored the threat posed to the US due to Iran's nuclear program, stating, "Iran has never been closer to acquiring a nuclear weapon."
"Iran has all it needs to build a nuclear weapon. All they need is a decision from the supreme leader to do so," said Leavitt. "And it would take only a few weeks to produce that weapon, which would, of course, pose a catastrophic threat not just to Israel, but to the United States and the entire world."
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Despite the threat, Leavitt asserted, "Iran is far from being able to develop a nuclear weapon. The president has been crystal clear about that. And, by the way, the deal that Special Envoy Witkoff proposed to the Iranians was both realistic and acceptable within its terms, which is why the president sent that deal to them."
Leavitt emphasized Trump's conviction that "Iran can and should make a deal" to resolve the conflict or face "grave consequences."
"Iran is in a precarious and exposed position due to the attacks from Israel," she said. "We sent a deal to them that was practical, that was reasonable."
According to French outlet RFI, the discussions on Friday with the Iranians will involve French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas.
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The talks in Geneva between the US, Iran, and European powers will likely revolve around the multi-step deal proposed by Iran, which aims to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons while easing economic sanctions and regional tensions. Key elements of this deal include temporary reductions in uranium enrichment, permanent bans on high-level enrichment, enhanced inspections, and the transfer of stockpiles of highly enriched uranium to a third country, among other conditions [enrichment data].
These negotiations represent a cautious yet potentially transformative diplomacy effort to revive and expand upon the original nuclear deal framework, addressing both nuclear and regional security concerns while gradually lifting sanctions.
Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, discussed President Donald Trump's policy-and-legislation regarding the Iran-Israel conflict, indicating a significant chance for dialogue amidst speculation of a war-and-conflicts scenario. During the White House press briefing, Leavitt also touched upon the general-news topic of the Iranian Foreign Minister's meetings with European leaders in Geneva, though she declined to confirm US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's attendance.
