President Donald Trump will intensify action against Iran if Tehran refuses to acknowledge what he described as a “military defeat”, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Addressing reporters, Leavitt warned that Trump is prepared to escalate further, cautioning Iran against any miscalculation. She said that unless Tehran accepts the current situation and recognises its position, the US would respond with even greater force.
The conflict, involving joint US-Israeli operations, has entered its fourth week, even as countries including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt attempt to mediate.
Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran is still reviewing a US proposal aimed at ending the war. Although the initial reaction was negative, Iran has not formally rejected the plan.
Leavitt said discussions between Washington and Tehran are ongoing and described them as productive. Reports citing unnamed sources had claimed that the US shared a 15-point roadmap to end the conflict, but she noted that while some elements may be accurate, the reports were not entirely correct and declined to elaborate.
Markets reacted cautiously to the developments, with global equities recovering slightly and oil prices easing, as investors expressed hope for a resolution to the conflict that has disrupted energy supplies and heightened inflation concerns.
