US warns of escalation as White House, Iran give conflicting accounts of talks
Newsy
The White House is pushing back against claims that Iran has rejected a U.S. proposal to end the war, insisting diplomatic talks are ongoing.
The White House is pushing back against claims that Iran has rejected a U.S. proposal to end the war, insisting diplomatic talks are ongoing.
Key U.S. priorities include preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, halting uranium enrichment and allowing freedom of navigation of the Strait of Hormuz.
It remains unclear who, specifically, the United States is negotiating with. President Donald Trump said this week that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner have all been involved in discussions.
Even as the administration emphasizes diplomacy, it is also issuing a warning to Iran.
"There does not need to be any more death and destruction. But 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," White House Press Secretary Kraoline Leavitt said in a briefing on Wednesday. "President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell."
The United States is warning Iranian civilians about Iran’s use of heavily populated civilians areas as launch centers and urging them to stay home.
President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that Iran would face more severe consequences as the conflict between Tehran, the United States and Israel continues to escalate.
Iran escalated attacks on Israel overnight as the conflict spreads across the region. President Donald Trump said the U.S. will accept nothing less than Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”
President Donald Trump said Thursday he should be involved in choosing Iran’s next supreme leader as the U.S. and Israel hammered the country for a sixth day.
The death of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leaves an uncertain power vacuum in Tehran, and someone sharing his last name could rise to power next.
Iran struck the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia with drones as Operation Epic Fury expands and economic fallout from the conflict grows.
The U.S. State Department has issued new guidance to Americans in the vicinity of Iran as regional conflict escalates.
At least four American soldiers have died as the war in the Middle East intensified over the weekend and Iran and its proxy forces launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and Arab states.
Trump ordered U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran; Tehran fired missiles at U.S. bases as Congress split over his authority to act without approval.