US President Donald Trump is exploring the possibility of urging Arab nations to help shoulder the financial burden of a potential war with Iran, even as Washington maintains that diplomatic talks with Tehran are ongoing.
Speaking at a White House briefing on Monday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that while no formal proposal has been made, the idea is under active consideration.
“I think it’s something the President would be quite interested in calling them to do,” Leavitt said, according to Reuters, adding that it is an idea Trump has been weighing and may address publicly in the near future.
Despite rising tensions, the administration signalled that backchannel diplomacy with Iran remains active. Leavitt pointed to a contrast between Tehran’s public statements and its private communications with US officials.
“Despite all of the public posturing and false reporting, talks are continuing and going well. What is said publicly is much different from what is being communicated to us privately,” she said.
Earlier in the day, Trump issued a sharp warning to Iran, saying its energy infrastructure—including oil facilities and desalination plants—could be “obliterated” if it fails to move toward a deal. The warning came after Iran dismissed US peace proposals as “unrealistic” and continued missile strikes on Israel.
Amid the escalating rhetoric, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi struck a more conciliatory tone toward Saudi Arabia, urging Riyadh to remove US forces from its territory.
“Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation,” Araghchi wrote on X. “Our operations are aimed at aggressors who respect neither Arabs nor Iranians… It is time to eject US forces.”
Meanwhile, Trump said the US has been in contact with Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, in remarks published by the New York Post. Qalibaf, however, denied any direct engagement with Washington and dismissed reports of Pakistan-mediated talks as a cover for US military movements.
On the ground, the conflict continues to widen. Israel has launched an incursion into southern Lebanon targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters, who have been firing rockets and drones across the border. Israeli officials have suggested the operation could evolve into a prolonged deployment.
In southern Lebanon, three UN peacekeepers were killed within a 24-hour period, though it remains unclear which side was responsible, underscoring the growing volatility in the region.
