白宫新闻秘书卡罗琳·莱维特(Karoline Leavitt)对美国和伊朗之间的谈判状况没有提供什么新的见解，但周三警告说，如果德黑兰不愿达成协议结束战争，唐纳德·特朗普总统准备“释放地狱”。
“总统的偏好永远是和平。莱维特在新闻发布会上对记者说:“不需要更多的死亡和破坏。
“但如果伊朗不能接受当前的现实，如果他们不能理解他们已经在军事上被打败并将继续被打败，特朗普总统将确保他们受到比以往任何时候都更大的打击，”她继续说道。“特朗普总统不会虚张声势，他也准备好了投降。伊朗不应该失算。”
消息人士告诉ABC新闻，特朗普政府通过巴基斯坦向伊朗发送了一份15点和平计划。伊朗新闻电视台援引一名官员的话说，伊朗拒绝美国的提议，德黑兰官员公开否认进行过任何谈判。
莱维特周三坚称谈判正在进行，并表示谈判是“富有成效的”——尽管她回避了记者的问题，这些记者寻求更多关于讨论内容的细节，谁将带领他们前往伊朗，以及谈判人员是否会很快见面。
当被问及谈判是否走进了死胡同时，莱维特坚定地反驳道:“没有。”
特朗普周一宣布，他将把威胁对德黑兰能源基础设施的主要攻击推迟五天，直到周五，因为他也称之为与伊朗的新“富有成效”的会谈。
“伊朗政权的剩余分子有另一个机会与特朗普总统合作，永久放弃他们的核野心，并停止积极威胁美国和我们的盟友，”莱维特说。
巴基斯坦和埃及都表示愿意停止会谈，以促进冲突的结束。一名巴基斯坦官员此前告诉美国广播公司新闻，在伊斯兰堡的面对面会议已经提上日程，但没有什么是最终决定。
“我已经看到了很多关于本周晚些时候可能发生的潜在谈判的猜测和报道。在白宫正式宣布之前，任何事情都不应被视为官方的。
特朗普周二透露，他、副总统万斯(JD Vance)和国务卿马尔科·卢比奥(John Kerry)以及白宫特使史蒂夫·威特科夫(Steve Witkoff)和总统女婿贾里德·库什纳(Michael Bloomberg)都将参加会谈。
当被问及万斯的角色时，莱维特说，他是政府国家安全小组的“关键成员”，并且“一直陪伴在总统身边”
莱维特还回避了特朗普总统周二表示伊朗送给美国的“非常大的礼物”的问题。川普没有透露礼物是什么，但表示与石油和流经关键的霍尔木兹海峡有关。
当被问及这份礼物是否是一艘载有200万桶石油的船只，并于周二成功通过海峡时，莱维特没有证实或否认，而是回答说:“我会让总统在适当的时候就此发表讲话。”
特朗普周二表示，伊朗的礼物向他发出信号，美国正在“与正确的人打交道”，德黑兰“将达成协议”。
奥巴马总统还表示，伊朗已经实现了政权更迭，许多高级领导人在美国和以色列的袭击中丧生。
莱维特星期三被问及政府是否对伊朗目前的新领导人感到满意。
“我认为现在说还为时过早，”她回应道。
虽然政府寻求潜在的外交途径解决冲突，但美国仍在继续向中东派遣数千名美国海军，五角大楼正在寻求2000亿美元的补充资金。
当被问及将第82空降师的一部分部署到中东的计划时，莱维特听从了五角大楼的意见，但他说“总统喜欢保留由他支配的选项”
莱维特重申了政府最初提出的为期四至六周的军事行动时间表，并表示美国已经提前完成了计划。
她说:“我们非常接近实现‘史诗般的愤怒’行动的核心目标，这项军事任务仍在继续。”。
Trump prepared to 'unleash hell' if Iran doesn't make deal, White House warns, amid questions on status of talks
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered little new insight into the status of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, but warned on Wednesday that President Donald Trump is prepared to "unleash hell" if Tehran balks at making a deal to end the war.
"The president's preference is alwayspeace. There does not need to be any more death and destruction," Leavitt told reporters at a press briefing.
"But if Iranfails toaccept the reality of the current moment, if theyfail tounderstand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be,President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before," she continued. "President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared tounleashhell. Iran should not miscalculateagain."
The Trump administration sent a 15-point peace plan to Iran by way of Pakistan, sources told ABC News. Iran's Press TV quoted an official saying Iran rejects the U.S. proposal, and officials in Tehran have publicly denied any talks have taken place.
Leavitt insisted on Wednesday that negotiations were ongoing and characterized them as "productive" -- though she dodged questions from reporters seeking more specifics on what's being discussed, who is leading them for Iran and whether negotiators would soon meet in person.
When asked if talks have hit a dead end, Leavitt firmly pushed back: "They have not."
Trump on Monday announced he was postponing major attacks he'd threatened on Tehran's energy infrastructure for five days -- until Friday -- because of what he also called new "productive" talks with Iran.
"The remaining elements of the Iranian regime have another opportunity to cooperate with President Trump, permanently abandoned their nuclear ambitions, and cease actively threatening America and our allies," Leavitt said.
Both Pakistan and Egypt have offered tohosttalks to facilitate an end to the conflict.A Pakistani official previously told ABC News an in-person meeting in Islamabad was on the table, though nothing was final.
"I've seen a lot of speculation and reporting about potential talks that could happen later this week. Nothing should be deemed official until it is announced formally by the White House," Leavitt said.
Trump on Tuesday revealed he, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are involved in the talks -- along with Steve Witkoff, White House special envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law.
When asked about Vance's role, Leavitt said he's a "key member" of the administration's national security team and has "been by the president's side every step of the way."
Leavitt also sidestepped questions about the "very big present" thatPresident Trump saidIran gifted the U.S. on Tuesday. Trump did not reveal what the gift was, but said it was related to oil and the flow through the critical Strait of Hormuz.
Asked if the gift was a ship carrying 2 million barrels of oil that successfully made its way through the strait on Tuesday, Leavitt did not confirm or deny, instead responding: "I’ll let the president speak on that at the appropriate time."
Trump on Tuesday had said the gift from Iran signaled to him the U.S. is "dealing with the right people" and that Tehran was "going to make a deal."
The president also said regime change in Iran had been achieved, as many of its senior leaders have been killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Leavitt was asked on Wednesday if the administration was satisfied with the new leaders currently in place in Iran.
"I think it's too soon to say," she responded.
While the administration seeks a potential diplomatic offramp to the conflict, the U.S. is continuing to sendthousands more U.S. Marinesto the Middle East, and thePentagon is seeking $200 billionin supplemental funding.
When asked about plans to deploy part of the82nd Airborne Divisionto the Middle East, Leavitt deferred to the Pentagon but said "the president likes to maintain options at his disposal."
Leavitt repeated the administration's initial four-to-six-week timeline for the military operation, and said the U.S. is ahead of schedule.
"We arevery closeto meeting the coreobjectivesof Operation Epic Fury, and this military mission continues unabated," she said.
