White House: Iran privately negotiating with U.S. despite public rejection of demands

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are “going well,” and the regime’s public comments rejecting the Trump administration’s demands are just for show.

Tehran has said U.S. demands of dismantling its nuclear capabilities, restricting its missile program and stopping support for terror groups are “excessive and unreasonable.”

Ms. Leavitt said the Islamic Republic has little choice but to seek a deal.

“It’s no surprise that we are seeing the remaining elements of the regime become increasingly eager to end the destruction and come to the negotiating table while they still can,” she said at a White House press briefing.

“Despite all of the public posturing you hear from the regime and false reporting, talks are continuing well,” she continued. “What is said publicly is, of course, much different than what’s being communicated to us privately.”

Earlier Monday, Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said the U.S.’s 15-point proposal pausing the war includes “largely excessive, unrealistic and unreasonable demands.” His comments contradicted President Trump’s earlier claims that Iran has agreed to “most of” the requests on the list.

Ms. Leavitt said that if Iran rejects Mr. Trump’s proposal, the Iranian regime will continue “to pay a grave price one way or another.”

But she added that the Iranian officials who are now negotiating with the U.S. appear more reasonable than previous regime leaders, even though she declined to name who American officials were dealing with.

“These folks are appearing more reasonable behind the scenes, privately in these conversations, than perhaps some of the previous leaders who are now no longer on planet Earth,” Ms. Leavitt said.

She added that if Iran does not negotiate in good faith or is unwilling to reach a diplomatic end to the war, the regime’s top officials could be killed.

“This is another historic opportunity for Iran to do the right thing to rid themselves of their nuclear ambitions and come to a deal with this president,” Ms. Leavitt said. “Or again, they will see the grave consequences of the United States Armed Forces.”