WASHINGTON: The White House spokesperson, Caroline Leuth, stated that the US is prepared to launch even more severe military strikes against Iran if it refuses to acknowledge defeat. She made the remarks during a press briefing, confirming that President Donald Trump is ready to escalate the conflict if Iran continues to resist US demands.
Leuth highlighted the success of Operation Epic Fury, in which 9,000 targets were struck. The operation destroyed 90 percent of Iran’s missile and drone assets while eliminating more than 140 naval vessels which represented the biggest naval loss since World War II. “In the aftermath of Operation Epic Fury, we have already inflicted substantial damage on Iran’s military infrastructure,” Leuth said. “Should Iran refuse to accept defeat, we are prepared for even stronger retaliatory strikes.”
The White House spokesperson said President Trump issues threats only when he wants to create diplomatic pressure which he considers serious enough to demand direct communication with Iran. “President Trump does not make idle threats. Iran should not misinterpret our resolve,” Leuth added. She told reporters that Iranian leaders and military forces had suffered from severe losses because of operational errors which led to their eventual destruction, thus proving that the U.S. will maintain its course of military operations.
The ongoing conflict could escalate to higher levels, according to Leuth who used President Trump’s views on combining military readiness with diplomatic efforts as his evidence. “President Trump considers diplomacy as his primary choice, but we will respond with military force that exceeds our current capabilities by 20 times,” she warned.
Leuth confirmed that diplomatic discussions are continuing when he announced U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s upcoming trip to Pakistan although the diplomatic situation remains unstable. “The current situation remains in an unstable condition. The United States requires an official announcement from the White House before any meetings with Iranian officials can be considered final according to her statement.
White House spokesperson also hinted that JD Vance, who has been engaged in discussions regarding Iran, is playing a key role in U.S. negotiations. “Vice President Vance is part of the team engaged in talks with Iran, and these diplomatic efforts continue to progress,” Leuth said.
She showed that President Trump prefers to use diplomatic methods before he considers military action, even though he spoke harshly against his opponents. The United States will conduct additional military operations if Iran maintains its current position of refusing peace, according to her statement.
