The United States and Iran are not currently engaged in negotiations to end the war, as Washington continues to focus on increasing economic pressure on Tehran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday.
Speaking to Fox News, Leavitt said President Donald Trump’s primary objective remains preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, while the administration continues its military and economic pressure campaigns against Tehran.
“What President Trump’s number one goal has been and will always be is to ensure that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon,” Leavitt said, adding that the United States had previously targeted Iran’s military and was now seeking to put greater pressure on its economy.
No Negotiations Underway
Leavitt said there were currently no negotiations between Washington and Tehran and indicated that the situation would remain unchanged unless Iran agreed to engage in what the Trump administration considers meaningful talks.
“No negotiations are happening right now,” she said, while emphasizing that the president continues to keep all options on the table.
She also confirmed that the US naval blockade of Iran remains in effect.
The comments come as Washington continues to expand economic pressure on Tehran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned countries earlier this week that maintaining financial ties with Iran could expose them to secondary sanctions.
The warning was part of a campaign described by the administration as “economic D-Day,” although the Treasury Department ultimately stopped short of immediately imposing new penalties.
Qatar Seeks to Revive Diplomacy
The latest US statements came as Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani traveled to Tehran on Thursday in an effort to revive diplomatic contacts between Iran and the United States.
Qatar has played a role as a back-channel mediator between Washington and Tehran and has sought to reduce tensions and create conditions for the resumption of dialogue.
The diplomatic push comes amid growing economic pressure on Iran and continued disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway for global energy supplies.
For now, Washington maintains that no negotiations are taking place, while leaving open the possibility of future diplomatic or military action depending on developments.
