The US said Wednesday it was still in talks with Iran despite Tehran reportedly rejecting a US plan to end the war—but warned President Donald Trump is ready to “unleash hell” if there is no deal.
Iranian state media quoted an unidentified official as claiming that the Islamic Republic has replied “negatively” to Trump’s alleged outreach as the Middle East war approaches its four-week mark.
Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, denied that discussions with Iran had reached an impasse.
“Talks continue. They are productive,” Leavitt told a briefing when asked about the Iranian report.
Leavitt said there were “elements of truth” in media reports on the outlines of a 15-point US plan outlining demands on Tehran, but some of the reporting was “not entirely factual.”
According to US and Israeli media, the points included Iran abandoning its nuclear program and agreeing to remove its ballistic missile arsenal.
Leavitt declined to disclose who the US was negotiating with in Tehran following the killing of supreme leader Ali Khamenei, whose son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to appear in public.
According to reports, the Trump administration’s interlocutor is Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, one of the country’s most prominent non-clerical politicians.
The spokeswoman also denied confirming allegations that top US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, were planning discussions with Iranians in Pakistan, which has emerged as a key mediator.
However, Leavitt warned that it was time for Iran to make a deal, asserting that Trump was nearing what the White House says are the key US military objectives of “Operation Epic Fury.”
“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.”
Trump is sending thousands of airborne troops and extra marines to the Gulf, sparking suspicion that he may launch a land assault to grab Iranian oil assets in the Gulf or protect the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s speaker, Ghalibaf, warned on Wednesday of a possible invasion of an Iranian island with the backing of an unnamed regional country.
Meanwhile, the White House appeared to stick to its previously stated wartime schedule of four to six weeks.
Trump said on Wednesday that his travel to China to meet with Xi Jinping has been rescheduled for mid-May, after being postponed by six weeks due to the disagreement.
“We’ve always estimated approximately four to six weeks (for the length of military operations against Iran), so you could do the math on that,” Leavitt added.
“President Xi understood that it’s very important for the president to be here throughout these combat operations right now.”
