WASHINGTON, March 30 - The White House said on Monday that President Donald Trump would be receptive to urging Arab nations to contribute financially to the costs of any future conflict with Iran.
At a briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the notion of asking Arab states to help pay for an Iran war is an idea the president has considered. When asked whether regional partners would step forward to fund such an effort, Leavitt declined to pre-empt any announcement but emphasized the proposal is one Mr. Trump is interested in pursuing.
"I think it’s something the President would be quite interested in calling them to do," Leavitt said. "It’s an idea that I know that he has and something that I think you’ll hear more from him on."
Leavitt also addressed the status of diplomatic contacts with Tehran, saying talks with Iran are ongoing and are progressing well. She drew a contrast between Iran's public statements and the positions it has taken privately with U.S. officials, asserting that Tehran had privately accepted some of Washington's points.
"Despite all of the public posturing you hear from the regime and false reporting, talks are continuing and going well. What is said publicly is, of course, much different than what’s being communicated to us privately," she said.
The press secretary cautioned that any private commitments Iran has made to Washington will be verified. "Anything Iran says to Washington privately will be tested and the U.S. would ensure that Tehran is held accountable to its word," Leavitt said.
Earlier on Monday, President Trump warned that Iran's energy infrastructure - including energy plants and oil wells - would be obliterated if Tehran did not re-open the Strait of Hormuz. The warning followed Tehran's dismissal of U.S. peace proposals as "unrealistic" and came amid reports that Iran had launched waves of missiles at Israel.
This reporting reflects statements made by the White House press secretary and the president on the record during the March 30 media briefing and subsequent remarks. It presents the administration's position that regional partners might be asked to share the financial burden of military action, while also describing the administration's account of its private diplomatic exchanges with Tehran and its stated approach to verifying any Iranian commitments.