White House Issues Warning to Iran Amid Ongoing Tensions

The White House delivered a strong message to Iran on Tuesday, indicating that President Donald Trump is ready to “unleash hell” if Iran continues its nuclear pursuits and threats against the U.S. and its allies.

“President Trump is serious about this,” White House press secretary Caroline Levitt stated during the Wednesday briefing, emphasizing that Iran shouldn’t miscalculate again. “Their last miscalculation led to significant losses in leadership, navy, air force, and air defense.” She suggested that more violence would result from Iran’s refusal to accept a deal, implying they have already been defeated.

Levitt mentioned that the ongoing U.S. military operation, called “Operation Epic Fury,” has considerably diminished Iran’s offensive power. She claimed that over 9,000 targets had been struck, and Iranian missile and drone operations had decreased by around 90%. Furthermore, much of Iran’s naval and air defense capabilities have been devastated.

She highlighted that this operation has created the largest naval withdrawal in three weeks since World War II, asserting its scale as unprecedented. The aim is to dismantle Iran’s military infrastructure and pressure them to resume negotiations. Levitt added that Trump had postponed specific attacks on energy targets to allow room for talks.

“Initially, we expected this mission to take about four to six weeks, so being 25 days in and ahead of schedule shows our extraordinary progress,” she claimed. “The Iranian regime is in disarray, and its ability to pose a threat has waned.” She noted that Iran’s aspirations for nuclear armament have been even more severely undermined than during a previous operation in June 2025, also suggesting that the regime appears to be seeking a way out.

Levitt did not provide details on whether the 82nd Airborne Division was preparing for potential operations in the region but reaffirmed that Operation Epic Fury is on track. “The president aims for peace, but further defiance from Iran will lead to more severe consequences,” she warned.

As U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran enter their fourth week, countries such as Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt are attempting to mediate the conflict. An Iranian official claimed that Iran is still weighing U.S. proposals for ending hostilities, despite earlier skepticism.

Levitt confirmed that negotiations with Iran are continuing, stating that these discussions have been encouraging. She referenced reports of a U.S. 15-point plan to conclude the conflict, suggesting that while there’s some truth to the report, certain claims were inaccurate. She declined to delve into specifics, stating, “The White House has never fully confirmed its plan.” Levitt maintained that she wouldn’t negotiate on the president’s behalf from the podium.

Markets responded positively to the news of a potential U.S.-Iran resolution, with some recovery seen in global stock markets, even as oil prices saw a decline.