U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in urging Arab countries to contribute financially to the costs of the ongoing conflict with Iran, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed on Monday. She noted that discussions with Tehran aimed at resolving the conflict are advancing positively.
When asked if Arab nations would be willing to assist in funding the war, Leavitt refrained from speaking on behalf of the president but confirmed it is an idea Trump supports. “The President is quite interested in calling on them to do so,” she stated, adding that more details on this initiative would likely emerge from Trump himself.
Leavitt highlighted a discrepancy between Iran’s public statements and its private communications with U.S. officials, indicating that Tehran has privately accepted some of Washington’s conditions. “Despite the public posturing and misleading reports from the regime, the talks are ongoing and progressing well. What Iran says publicly differs significantly from what it conveys to us in private,” she explained.
Earlier on Monday, Trump issued a stern warning that Iran’s energy infrastructure, including oil wells and plants, would be destroyed if Tehran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This came after Iran dismissed U.S. peace proposals as “unrealistic” and launched multiple missile attacks against Israel.
In a notable statement on Sunday, Trump claimed that “regime change” in Iran has effectively occurred. He described the previous regime as “decimated” and “destroyed,” with the current leadership being a new group of individuals who have been “very reasonable.” “We’re dealing with different people than anyone has before,” he said.
However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned on Monday during an appearance on Good Morning America that while new Iranian leadership with a more reasonable outlook would be positive, the U.S. must remain prepared for the possibility that this may not be the case.
When questioned about how the U.S. will ensure any agreement is upheld by capable Iranian authorities, Leavitt emphasized that private assurances from Tehran will be rigorously tested. She affirmed that the U.S. will hold Iran accountable and reiterated that President Trump has outlined clear military consequences if Iran fails to honor its commitments made behind closed doors.
