White House: Trump's First Option on Iran is Diplomacy
WASHINGTON (Afghan Verified) -- White House spokesperson Carolyn Leavitt stated that President Donald Trump's primary option for dealing with Tehran is always diplomacy, though he is prepared to employ lethal force from the U.S. military if necessary.
Leavitt made the remarks Tuesday night, Feb. 24, 2026, to reporters at the White House. She emphasized that Trump remains the final decision-maker on all security and military matters.
The United States has previously deployed an extensive naval force near Iran's coasts in preparation for potential military action if required.
Trump has previously indicated that he gave Tehran approximately 10 to 15 days to reach an agreement. He may reiterate his threat to strike Iran's nuclear program during his State of the Union address.
Leavitt's comments come amid ongoing U.S. considerations of approaches toward Iran, highlighting diplomacy as the initial preference while underscoring readiness for escalation.
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