White House Wants Iran to Negotiate with Trump Administration

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. (Instagram/@karolineleavitt)

JAKARTA - The White House warned on Wednesday that Iran would be "wise" to negotiate with the United States as President Donald Trump once again hinted at military action.

The two sides recently resumed indirect talks, mediated by Oman, after President Trump repeatedly threatened military action against Iran over its brutal crackdown on protesters last month.

Iran is in nuclear talks with the US which were due to enter a sixth round, but collapsed when Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran in June last year, starting a 12-day war that Washington joined to bomb Iranian nuclear sites.

"Iran would be very wise to negotiate with President Trump and his administration," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (19/2).

Yesterday, President Trump again hinted that the United States might attack Iran in a post on his Truth Social site, with ongoing US military build-up in the Middle East.

He warned Britain against relinquishing sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, saying that the Diego Garcia Air Base on the islands might be needed if Iran did not agree to a deal, "to counter potential attacks by a very unstable and dangerous regime."

Earlier on Wednesday, Tehran's chief diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, said Iran was "preparing" a framework for future talks with the US.

Iran and the United States held a second round of negotiations mediated by Oman on Tuesday in Geneva.

Araghchi said at the time, Tehran had agreed to "guide principles" with Washington, but US Vice President JD Vance said Iran had not recognized all of Washington's red lines.

Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday insisted "We don't want war" but hinted that Tehran could not give in to US demands.

"From the first day I took office, I believed that war should be ruled out. But if they are going to try to impose their will on us, humiliate us, and demand that we bow down in any way, should we accept it?" he explained.

The talks, mediated by Oman, are aimed at preventing a possible US military action, while Tehran demands the lifting of US sanctions that have crippled its economy.

Iran insists discussions should be limited to nuclear issues, although Washington has previously pushed for Tehran's ballistic missile program and support for armed groups in the region to be discussed.

While talks have resumed, the US has also increased its military presence near Iran.