Karoline Leavitt praised President Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran, describing the administration’s efforts as “a resounding success” following what officials said were threats to U.S. security amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Leavitt made the remarks as the United States continues operations under Operation Epic Fury, a campaign aimed at Iranian missile facilities, nuclear program, and leadership.
“Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, the rogue Iranian terrorist regime is being absolutely crushed,” Leavitt said during a news briefing on Wednesday afternoon, adding that more than 2,000 targets have been hit so far. “Iran’s murderous, terrorist leaders are paying for their crimes against America — and they are paying in blood.”
Leavitt also said that Trump is “correcting decades of cowardice” regarding U.S. foreign policy towards Iran, adding that the current commander-in-chief is committed to eliminating the threat once and for all.
“President Trump is finally the man of action. President Trump does not bluff,” she said.
In a lengthy X post, Leavitt also laid out Trump’s objectives anew:
Destroy the Iranian regime’s missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. Annihilate the Iranian regime’s Navy. Ensure the regime’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces.
Stop them from making and using IEDs or roadside bombs, which have gravely wounded and killed thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans. Guarantee that Iran can NEVER obtain a nuclear weapon. Preventing this radical regime and its terrorist leaders from threatening America and our core national security interests is a clear-eyed and necessary objective.
Killing terrorists is good for America. 49 of the most senior Iranian regime leaders – including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – have already been wiped off the face of the Earth so far in the opening strikes of Operation Epic Fury. Finally, while Operation Midnight Hammer did obliterate Iran’s major nuclear sites, the regime was fully committed to rebuilding their nuclear program, and they REFUSED to make a deal, despite months of extensive talks and good faith efforts by President Trump’s top negotiators.
Simply put, the terrorist Iranian regime would not say yes to peace.
For 47 years, the Iranian regime has actively and intentionally facilitated the killing of Americans while chanting “death to America” and funding other bloodthirsty terrorists seeking to destroy the United States and all of Western Civilization. Prior American leaders were too weak and cowardly to do anything about it. Now, President Donald J. Trump is correcting decades of cowardice and holding those responsible for the deaths of Americans accountable.
Their brutal attacks and threats will finally end under President Trump. America will win – the terrorists will be defeated.
Asked what Trump meant by accepting only “unconditional surrender,” Leavitt said Friday that will be achieved when the president “determines that Iran no longer poses a threat to the United States of America” and the mission’s goals have “been fully realized.”
“Then Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender,” she told reporters outside the White House, whether they say it themselves or not. Frankly, they don’t have a lot of people to say that for them.”
Leavitt also stated she had no information regarding the Pentagon’s investigation into whether the U.S. military had targeted an Iranian girls’ school.
“Again, as I said at the briefing two days ago, I don’t have any updates with respect to the investigation. I would expect those to come from the Pentagon,” she said.
Trump hinted late last week that a small ground force could be sent to Isfahan to retrieve roughly 970 pounds of uranium, which is enriched to about 60 percent – less than the 90 percent needed to become weapons-grade.
“We wouldn’t do it now,” Trump said aboard Air Force One.