White House tells Iran more strikes loom if talks fail

2026-03-25 - 19:33

The White House warned Wednesday that additional military strikes against Iran could follow if ongoing talks fail to produce results. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said U.S. forces are “very close to meeting the core objectives” of the current military operations. Speaking in the James Brady Press Briefing Room, Leavitt stressed that while “productive conversations” with Iran are underway, the United States retains the capacity to escalate its response if Tehran does not comply with what Washington describes as the current realities on the ground, according to dw.com. “If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily ... Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before,” Leavitt said, signaling that Washington is prepared for further action should diplomacy falter. The comments underscore the U.S. administration’s dual approach of pressing for dialogue while maintaining readiness to intensify military measures if Iran does not meet U.S. demands.