U.S. President Donald Trump’s first option in dealing with Tehran is always diplomacy, but he is prepared to use deadly force if necessary, his spokesperson said Tuesday, as Washington intensifies its focus on Iran.
“President Trump’s first option is always diplomacy. But as he has shown… he is prepared to use the lethal force of the United States military if necessary,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
“The president is always the ultimate decision-maker here,” she added.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to brief senior congressional leaders on Tuesday regarding Iran, according to the State Department. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Rubio is expected to update lawmakers specifically on Iran-related developments.
The United States has deployed significant naval forces near Iran’s coastline amid potential strike scenarios against the Islamic Republic. On February 19, Trump stated that he was giving Tehran approximately 10 to 15 days to reach an agreement.
Trump may also address his warnings toward Iran over its nuclear program during his State of the Union-style address Tuesday evening.
