White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said U.S. President Donald Trump would be quite interested in making Arab countries shoulder the expense of a war against Iran.
On the 30th (local time), Spokesperson Leavitt said at a briefing, in response to a question that asked, "Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) covered a significant portion of the war expense during the Gulf War; will that be the case this time as well?", "President Trump would be quite interested in asking them to do so."
Spokesperson Leavitt added, "As far as I know, it's an idea the president has," noting that President Trump would comment on it later.
The logic is that Arab countries in the region, which would gain security benefits from removing the Iranian threat, should bear the massive military operation expense, suggesting there may have been internal White House discussions on cost sharing.
However, as many Arab countries with U.S. military bases, along with the UAE, have suffered damage from Iran's attacks, the cost-sharing talks appear likely to proceed in a complicated direction.
The same day, Spokesperson Leavitt warned that talks with Iran were proceeding smoothly and that Iran could pay a severe price if it rejects this golden opportunity.
Leavitt said, "Negotiations are ongoing and going well," adding, "(The talks tied to the pause in strikes) are a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Iran, and if it rejects this opportunity, options are waiting under which Iran could pay a severe price."
Spokesperson Leavitt also said there was no change to the four-to-six-week war timeline. In line with President Trump's policy to negotiate through Apr. 6, she reaffirmed that the war would end by mid-April, in some form, marking six weeks.
She then said that 20 additional oil tankers would pass through the Strait of Hormuz within a few days.
The same day, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox News, "With time, the United States will retake control of the Strait of Hormuz and enjoy freedom of navigation."
Spokesperson Leavitt also said that senior U.S. officials could visit China ahead of President Trump's trip there in May. It was interpreted as explaining that, as is customary, a visit to coordinate the agenda could take place before the summit.