US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran is engaged in peace negotiations, despite repeated denials from Tehran, suggesting Iranian officials are reluctant to admit it publicly out of fear for their safety.
“They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly,” Trump told a dinner attended by Republican members of Congress. “But they’re afraid to say it, because they figure they’ll be killed by their own people. They’re also afraid they’ll be killed by us.”
Trump’s remarks came after Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that Tehran had no intention of entering negotiations.
The US president also reiterated his claim that Iran was being “decimated” as the conflict entered its fourth week, even as Tehran continues to exert significant control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route.
Turning to domestic politics, Trump accused Democrats of attempting to downplay what he described as major successes in the ongoing military campaign.
“They’re trying to deflect from all of the tremendous success that we’re having in this military operation,” he said. In a pointed jab at calls for congressional authorization, he added: “They don’t like the word ‘war,’ because you’re supposed to get approval, so I’ll use the word military operation.”
Earlier, the White House warned that the United States was prepared to escalate further if Iran refused to concede, while maintaining that diplomatic engagement was still underway.
Iranian state media reported that Tehran had responded “negatively” to a reported 15-point proposal from Washington.
‘Talks continue’
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration remained firm in its stance.
“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,” she told reporters.
“President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again.”
Despite the rhetoric, Leavitt insisted that diplomatic efforts were ongoing. “Talks continue. They are productive,” she said, declining to specify who Washington is engaging with in Tehran following reports of leadership uncertainty.
Speculation has grown over potential intermediaries, including Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, one of Iran’s most prominent political figures outside the clerical establishment.
Leavitt also declined to confirm reports that senior US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, could hold talks with Iranian representatives in Pakistan, which has emerged as a possible mediator.
Meanwhile, the US has been reinforcing its military presence in the Gulf, deploying additional airborne troops and Marines amid speculation about a potential ground operation, either to secure oil assets or ensure access through the Strait of Hormuz.
The administration appeared to maintain its earlier estimate that the conflict could last between four and six weeks.
Trump also confirmed that a planned visit to China to meet President Xi Jinping has been rescheduled to mid-May, after being postponed to address the ongoing crisis.
“We’ve always estimated approximately four to six weeks,” Leavitt said. “You can do the math on that.”
AFP
