The White House said Monday that President Donald Trump is not ruling anything out in dealing with Iran, stressing that both diplomatic and military paths remain under consideration as unrest continues inside the country.
Speaking to reporters during an afternoon press gaggle outside the West Wing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked whether the administration had excluded the possibility of military action — including airstrikes — against Iran amid growing protests against the regime led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“Well, I think one thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table, and airstrikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the Commander in Chief. Diplomacy is always the first option for the president,” Leavitt said.
Leavitt emphasized that the Iranian government’s public rhetoric does not match what it is privately conveying to Washington, suggesting internal contradictions within the regime’s messaging.
“He’s told all of you last night that what you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite differently [sic] from the messages the administration is receiving privately, and I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages,” Leavitt detailed.
At the same time, she underscored that the administration is prepared to escalate if circumstances warrant it, pointing to Trump’s record of acting decisively when he believes U.S. interests are threatened.
“However, with that said, the president has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary, and nobody knows that better than Iran,” she added.
Leavitt also highlighted the continued role of special envoy Steve Witkoff in diplomatic efforts related to Iran, describing him as a key figure in ongoing and potential talks.
Meanwhile, Trump addressed the situation publicly over the weekend, posting on Truth Social that the United States “stands ready to help” as Iran appears to be facing an unprecedented push toward “FREEDOM” amid nationwide protests. CNN has reported that more than 500 demonstrators have been killed as of Monday.
During a return flight to Washington, DC, aboard Air Force One on Sunday night from Palm Beach, Florida, Trump voiced concern over the growing death toll and signaled that Iran may be nearing a critical threshold in his assessment.
“There seemed to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed,” he said. “The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options.”
{Matzav.com}
