White House denies Iran rejected Trump's 15-point peace plan
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said reports that Iran had rejected the US 15-point peace plan are not true, adding that negotiations between the sides are ongoing, The Guardian reports.
Commenting on claims that Tehran had allegedly rejected the US proposal to end the war, she said: "They have not."
"However, I saw a 15-point plan that was floated in the media. I would caution reporters in this room from reporting about speculative points, speculative plans from anonymous sources," she said.
At the same time, she noted that the White House had never formally confirmed the plan.
"There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual," she noted.
Leavitt also stressed that US President Donald Trump prefers a peaceful resolution, while maintaining a tough stance toward Iran.
She emphasized that after Trump’s "powerful threat" over the weekend, Washington saw signals that Iran was ready for negotiations. According to her, this led to continued constructive discussions and the postponement of planned strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure.
"The President’s preference is always peace. 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," Leavitt said.
According to her, the US President is not someone who bluffs and is ready "to unleash hell" if Tehran does not agree to a deal.
What is known about Trump’s 15-point plan
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the United States had presented Iran with a 15-point peace plan aimed at ending hostilities in the Middle East.
Among the key proposals is placing 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium stored in Iran under international control. The document also pays particular attention to the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been blocked following the start of the US and Israeli military operation.
At the same time, Sky News, citing an Iranian source, reported that Tehran criticized the plan, calling it "excessive," and put forward its own conditions for ending the war.
