US President Donald Trump has stated that he is "unafraid" to use lethal force against Iran if diplomacy fails, but his administration still considers diplomacy as the first option in addressing the ongoing crisis. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized this point on Monday, saying that while Trump does not want to see people being killed in the streets of Tehran, he is willing to take strong action to protect American interests.
Leavitt also stated that Iran has been sending "quite different" messages to the US privately than what it is saying publicly, and that the administration is interested in exploring these private messages. She added that diplomacy remains Trump's first option, but noted that he will not hesitate to use military force if necessary.
The comments come as tensions between the US and Iran remain high following the ongoing protests in Iran against the government's actions. At least 648 demonstrators have so far been killed in the crackdown by Iranian security forces, according to human rights groups tracking the death toll.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the US of "deceit" and relying on "treacherous mercenaries," while praising pro-government rallies staged across the country. The rallies were held as a warning to US politicians to end their "deceit" and not rely on foreign enemies.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned the UK to avoid interfering in Iran's internal affairs, following comments from Yvette Cooper, the UK's foreign secretary, who told him that the government must immediately end its violence against protesters. Araghchi also said that if the US cannot protect diplomatic missions, "Iran would be left with no choice but to consider evacuating our personnel" from its embassy in London.
The situation remains tense, with both sides threatening retaliation and diplomacy being used as a last resort. The US has stated that it will not rule out military action against Iran if diplomacy fails, while Iranian officials have warned of the consequences of any military intervention.
Leavitt also stated that Iran has been sending "quite different" messages to the US privately than what it is saying publicly, and that the administration is interested in exploring these private messages. She added that diplomacy remains Trump's first option, but noted that he will not hesitate to use military force if necessary.
The comments come as tensions between the US and Iran remain high following the ongoing protests in Iran against the government's actions. At least 648 demonstrators have so far been killed in the crackdown by Iranian security forces, according to human rights groups tracking the death toll.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the US of "deceit" and relying on "treacherous mercenaries," while praising pro-government rallies staged across the country. The rallies were held as a warning to US politicians to end their "deceit" and not rely on foreign enemies.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned the UK to avoid interfering in Iran's internal affairs, following comments from Yvette Cooper, the UK's foreign secretary, who told him that the government must immediately end its violence against protesters. Araghchi also said that if the US cannot protect diplomatic missions, "Iran would be left with no choice but to consider evacuating our personnel" from its embassy in London.
The situation remains tense, with both sides threatening retaliation and diplomacy being used as a last resort. The US has stated that it will not rule out military action against Iran if diplomacy fails, while Iranian officials have warned of the consequences of any military intervention.
. It's like they're standing on opposite sides of a huge cliff, and either way, someone's gonna get hurt 
. The fact that Trump is willing to use lethal force against Iran if diplomacy fails is super concerning - it feels like we're on the brink of war 
. And with all these protests happening in Iran and people getting killed by security forces, it's heartbreaking 
. I wish they could just talk things out and find a peaceful solution 
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. Trump's talkin' tough but I hope he means diplomacy not war 
... it seems like Iran's already sufferin' from protests and now they're sayin' if the US intervenes they'll leave London 
. This is a crazy cycle, let's try to find peace instead of more conflict 
. What do u think? Should diplomacy be our top priority here? 
Trump is literally toying with fire over here, talking tough about using lethal force but still saying diplomacy is the first option... like, what's the plan? 
And those private messages Iran's been sending the US are totally shady, I'm low-key freaked out. What if they're hiding something?! 
But I guess that's not an option with these two going back and forth like this. Either way, it's a super tense situation and I'm keeping my fingers crossed no one gets hurt. 
Iran's been sending mixed signals too, like whats the deal with all these secret talks? 
and Trump's just gonna sit back & watch? 
think someone needs to take a deep breath & talk things out... 
. btw i've been trying to learn more about iran's culture and history, has anyone else heard anything interesting? 
.
i think karoline leavitt is right in saying that they should try to explore those private messages between us and iran because it seems like diplomacy isnt really working here 
but at the same time, trump is all about taking strong action which makes me nervous 
. The thought of all those innocent people getting killed because of some conflict between countries is just heartbreaking 
.
. The US is worried about Iran's actions, but Iran feels like the US is being deceitful too 
... it's all just a big cycle of fear and mistrust.
. Let's hope that somehow, someway, we can find a way to calm down these tensions and work towards a brighter future for all of us 
. It's like they can't make up their minds 
I'm not sure which side to believe or what's really going on here 
Can we just get some clarity already? 
at least 648 people killed and still diplomatic channels being used as a last resort btw whats with all the "we're willing to take strong action" nonsense can someone just give us a straight answer for once?? 
That's not a sustainable solution to conflicts, imo. We need more nuanced thinking from world leaders, especially when it comes to diplomacy. Iran seems like they're trying to negotiate behind the scenes too, which is interesting... maybe we can learn something from that. Anyway, I hope both sides can find common ground before things escalate further 
and it's not looking good for diplomacy right now. Trump's willingness to use lethal force sounds super concerning 
it feels like a game of chicken but with nuclear options 
? Anyway, I'm not sure how this is all gonna play out but one thing's for sure - it's anyone's guess 
. I mean, 648 people killed in protests? That's just insane 
. I remember when the Berlin Wall came down and everyone thought we'd finally achieved peace... Fast forward to this, and it's like the same fears are still lurking in the shadows 
. Trump saying he'll use lethal force if diplomacy fails? It's too much 
. And now there are even reports of pro-government rallies being held in Iran... it's like a whole situation. 
Like, seriously though, 648 people dead and we're still trying to negotiate with them? It's like, "Hey, let's talk about this... after we send in the drones." 
It just feels like a big game of chicken with nuclear options.
At least 648 people have been killed in protests already