Trump prefers diplomacy, but willing to use ‘lethal force’ against Iran if necessary – White House spox

By Lazar Berman

You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

24 February 2026, 4:23 pm

2 Edit

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

US President Donald Trump arrives in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

US President Donald Trump’s “first option is always diplomacy,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tells reporters in Washington, “but as he has shown, he is willing to use the lethal force of the United States military if necessary.”

She stresses that Trump will be the one who decides what course of action to take against Iran: “I’ve seen a lot of sensationalist reporting over the past day that is just completely untrue. And anyone speculating to the media, hiding behind an anonymous source, pretending to know what President Trump is thinking or a decision he will make with respect to action against Iran, has no idea what they’re talking about.”