Diplomacy Or Disaster Next? As Iran Burns, White House Says Trump Keeps ‘All Options On The Table’, Including Airstrikes | World News

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump continues to keep “all options on the table” in addressing the situation in Iran, including the possibility of military action, although diplomacy is his first choice, the White House said on Monday.

Answering questions about whether the ongoing protests in Iran can be resolved without military intervention, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the president is evaluating every tool at the commander-in-chief’s disposal. He added that air strikes were one of many options being considered.

“One of the things President Trump is very good at is always keeping all options on the table, and airstrikes will be one of many options on the table for the Commander in Chief. Diplomacy is always the first option for the president,” he told reporters.

He added that the messages the administration received privately from Tehran differed from the messages Iran made public, and that the President was willing to investigate those private communications before taking any action.

“He told all of you last night that what you are hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately, and I think the president has an interest in investigating those messages,” he said.

He emphasized that Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that he is willing to use military measures when necessary, and Iran is well aware of this readiness. He also confirmed that Trump will meet with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Thursday, but no additional details were provided.

The statement comes as large-scale protests continue in many provinces of Iran, including Azerbaijan province and the central city of Arak, with demonstrators waving flags and chanting slogans supporting the regime. The unrest follows a period of rising inflation, economic distress and growing public disillusionment with the administration.

According to the Human Rights News Agency, reports indicate that at least 544 people were killed and more than 10,681 people were arrested and held in prisons.

Meanwhile, Iranian armed forces also reiterated their readiness to respond to any external attack. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters that Tehran is closely monitoring the developments and is ready to respond immediately to hostile actions.

He stated that it continues to defend the integrity of the nation with full force and vigilance, ensuring that its armed forces are ready to repel any act of aggression.

Baghaei also claimed that foreign intervention also played a role in the unrest, claiming that the recent riots were caused by openly intrusive statements by US and Israeli officials, intensifying tensions across the country.