Iran has requested high-level talks with the Trump administration this week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Monday. Special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to travel to Doha to continue discussions with Tehran.
"As far as we're concerned, we're holding up our end of the ceasefire. Violence will be met with violence," Leavitt stated during an appearance on "Fox & Friends." She added that the president wants to see a peace process unfold and that Iran would benefit from signing a deal with the United States.
The diplomatic outreach follows recent escalations, including U.S. Central Command airstrikes against Iranian targets on June 26 after a vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly targeted U.S. military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Leavitt indicated that if the ongoing negotiations, centered around a memorandum of understanding, proceed as expected, Americans could see a decrease in gas prices. Conversely, she warned that continued aggression from Iran would further isolate the country regionally and internationally. "They'll prove themselves to be the pariah of the Middle East," she said.
President Donald Trump has previously warned Iran against renewed attacks, stating that any aggression would be met with force. Leavitt emphasized the strength of the U.S. military, noting that the president retains the right to use it. "The United States of America has the best and strongest military in the world. The president retains the right to use it."
Earlier in the month, reports suggested that President Trump had announced "major combat operations" in Iran, signaling a significant increase in tensions between Washington and Tehran. However, the current diplomatic engagement suggests a continued effort to de-escalate and reach a formal agreement.