“If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand 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,” Leavitt said.She claimed that US operations have significantly degraded Iran’s military capabilities, describing the campaign as “the largest elimination of a navy in three weeks since World War Two.” Referring to ongoing military action, she said Operation Epic Fury had been a “resounding military triumph” and added that US forces were “very close to meeting the core objectives” of the campaign. On the possibility of further escalation, Leavitt indicated that Trump would not seek Congressional authorisation for troop deployment, stating that the US is already engaged in “major combat operations in Iran.” However, she declined to provide details on the status of negotiations, calling the matter sensitive. “I am not going to negotiate on behalf of the president here at the podium,” she said, while maintaining that “productive conversations” are ongoing.Her remarks come as Iranian foreign minister Abbas Aaragchi outrightly rejected any negotiations with the US saying Tehran’s current strategy remains the “continuation of resistance,” stressing that no formal negotiations have taken place and that Iran sees no reason to enter dialogue under current conditions.The statement came around the reports of a US-proposed 15-point plan aimed at ending the conflict, which has entered its fourth week. Leavitt acknowledged there are “elements of truth” in these reports, though she cautioned that some details are “not entirely factual.” Efforts to broker a ceasefire have intensified, with countries including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt attempting to mediate between the two sides. According to a Reuters report, a senior Iranian official said Tehran is still reviewing the US proposal despite an initial negative response, indicating that it has not been formally rejected.(With inputs from agencies)