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White House Says US Remains Open to Iran Deal Despite Recent Military Strikes

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Iran continues negotiating with the US despite recent military strikes after violating an agreement covering the Strait of Hormuz, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing on Thursday.

"Iran very much continues to talk to the United States of America and express that they want to make a deal with us," Leavitt said, noting that Tehran is "suffering devastating blows" from recent US military action.

Leavitt said recent US strikes followed Iran's breach of the memorandum of understanding.

"In the Memorandum of Understanding that they signed, they were not to fire on commercial vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz," she said, adding that President Donald Trump "is not going to sit by" while such attacks continue.

"The Strait is open for ships that are not traveling to and from Iranian ports specifically," Leavitt said. She added that the US reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports after Tehran failed to honor its agreement.

Leavitt said over 10,000 US sailors, marines and airmen, supported by two aircraft carriers, over 20 warships and dozens of aircraft, are enforcing the blockade.

She added that US Central Command redirected two compliant commercial vessels and disabled one non-compliant vessel during the first 24 hours.

Oil traded at about $80 per barrel on Thursday, while US gasoline prices have fallen by about $0.60 per gallon from the conflict peak, Leavitt said. She credited domestic energy policies and emergency measures for stabilizing markets.

Leavitt said the administration has released oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, approved a Jones Act waiver, issued fuel environmental waivers and invoked the Defense Production Act to restart California oil production.

Trump remains willing to pursue diplomacy but insists Iran "can never obtain a nuclear weapon," Leavitt said.

She added that the administration will continue negotiations while responding to any Iranian actions that threaten commercial shipping or regional security.

Leavitt said Iran's military capabilities have been severely weakened by Operation Epic Fury. "We can hit Iran anytime, anywhere, any place," she said, while adding Trump remains "always open to diplomacy" if Tehran honors its commitments.

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