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Trump interested in calling on Arab states to help pay for Iran war, White House says

AL-Monitor
Mar 30, 2026
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 30, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 30, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci — Evan Vucci

WASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump would be interested in calling on Arab countries to pay for the cost of the Iran war, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday, adding that she thinks Trump would have more to say on the issue.

Leavitt, asked at a news briefing whether Arab countries would step up to help pay for the war, said she would not get ahead of the Republican president but that it was an idea that Trump had.

"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."

(Reporting by Bo Erickson and Ryan Patrick Jones; Writing by Daphne Psaledakis, editing by Michelle Nichols)