The White House said Wednesday that diplomacy remains Donald Trump’s “first option” in negotiations with Iran, even as he discusses potential military strikes with multiple advisors.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt noted that there are “many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran,” citing attacks Trump ordered last June on Iranian nuclear facilities, which the administration claims “totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program. She emphasized that diplomacy remains the priority, urging Tehran to engage constructively with the US administration.
The remarks followed the conclusion of a second round of indirect US-Iran negotiations mediated by Oman in Geneva, with both sides acknowledging progress. While JD Vance described the talks as productive in some areas, he noted that Tehran has yet to agree on certain “red lines.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi characterized the discussions as “more constructive.”
Washington has substantially increased its military presence in the region, deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, with the USS Gerald R. Ford en route, alongside additional fighter jets. This Geneva meeting was the second round of talks since Trump ordered strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last June; the first round took place in Muscat, Oman, on February 6.
