Iran dangles diplomacy as Trump weighs strikes amid protests
Despite the outreach, Iran doesn't appear willing to abandon its red lines in talks with the United States.
WASHINGTON — As President Donald Trump considers responding with military action to Iran's deadly protest crackdown, the country’s leaders appear to be seeking a diplomatic off-ramp with the United States.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that an Iranian official has reached out to Trump envoy Steve Witkoff "expressing a far different tone than what you're seeing publicly.”
“I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages,” Leavitt said. Trump "has shown he's unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary, and nobody knows that better than Iran," though she emphasized that “the president’s first option always has been diplomacy."
Earlier Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a gathering of ambassadors in Tehran that his country is prepared for war but “open to diplomacy” with the United States based on “mutual interests.” Araghchi’s spokesperson said the same day that the “communication channel” with Witkoff remained open.
