Trump & Iran: White House Threatens “Lethal Force” Amid Unrest

Former President Donald Trump has threatened potential military action against Iran as protests continue in the country, with the White House indicating airstrikes are among the options being considered. The administration also announced a 25% tariff on goods from any country doing business with Iran.

Trump Threatens Iran with Military Force

Last week, Trump issued a warning to Iran’s leadership: “You’d better not start shooting, because we’ll start shooting too.” The White House is now reinforcing that stance, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that while diplomacy remains the “first option,” Trump is “unafraid to use the lethal force and might of the United States military if and when he deems that necessary.”

Leavitt further elaborated that airstrikes are “one of the many, many options that are on the table for the commander-in-chief,” while adding that Trump “doesn’t want to see people being killed in the streets of Tehran.”

Iran Protests and Previous US Action

The Iranian regime is currently facing its largest protest movement since 2009, which leadership has attributed to “American-Zionist terrorism.” Referencing last year’s US strikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites, Leavitt stated, “Nobody knows that better than Iran.” Satellite imagery suggested the damage from those strikes was more limited than initially claimed by Trump.

New Tariffs Announced

Following Leavitt’s comments, Trump announced on Truth Social that any country engaging in business with Iran will face a 25% tariff on all trade with the United States, effective immediately.

In other news, every living former head of the Federal Reserve condemned an attempt by the Trump administration to weaken the central bank’s independence. Minnesota’s attorney general announced a lawsuit against the federal government to end a surge of ICE agents in the state. Greenland’s government stated it “cannot under any circumstances accept” a US takeover. Additionally, Trump has expressed regret for not seizing voting machines after his 2020 election defeat.