WASHINGTON — President Trump is “exploring” Tehran’s diplomatic outreach to special envoy Steve Witkoff before deciding whether to bomb Iran in support of anti-government protesters, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday.
Trump has threatened to intervene to protect rallygoers, but told reporters Sunday that “Iran called to negotiate yesterday” and “a meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting.” At least 544 people have been killed in Iran during the anti-government protests, according to activists.
Leavitt revealed that Witkoff was the recipient of the message and that it was “quite different” from defiant public remarks from the Islamic republic.
“There was an official from the Iranian government… that reached out a member of the president’s very close team, special envoy Witkoff, expressing a far different tone than what you’re seeing publicly,” she said.
In public, Iranian officials have been defiant, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying “we are completely prepared” for war and the country’s parliament speaker, Baqer Qalibaf, threatening to “discipline” Trump.
“One thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table and airstrikes would be one of the many, many options on the table for the commander in chief,” Leavitt told reporters on the White House driveway.
“Diplomacy is always the first option for the president… What you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately. I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages.”
Leavitt added that Trump “has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary and nobody knows that better than Iran,” referring to the June 22 US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites.
“He certainly doesn’t want to see people being killed in the streets of Tehran. And unfortunately that’s something we are seeing right now.” Leavitt said.
