The White House has intensified its confrontational stance towards Iran this week, explicitly threatening the potential use of military force while announcing severe new economic penalties. This escalation follows widespread protests within Iran and a series of hardline statements from President Donald Trump.
Sabre-Rattling and the Threat of Force
Last week, as Iranian security forces cracked down on the largest protest movement the country has seen since 2009, President Trump issued a blunt warning to Tehran's leadership: "You’d better not start shooting, because we’ll start shooting too."
This week, the administration has doubled down on that rhetoric. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, in an interview with Fox News, stated that while diplomacy remained the preferred course, the President was "unafraid to use the lethal force and might of the United States military" if he deemed it necessary.
"Airstrikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the commander-in-chief," Leavitt elaborated. She referenced last year's US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, asserting, "Nobody knows that better than Iran." Leavitt also claimed Trump was disturbed by the violence against protesters, stating, "He’s made it quite clear he certainly doesn’t want to see people being killed in the streets of Tehran."
Economic Pressure: A New 25% Tariff
Following Leavitt's comments on Monday, President Trump moved to apply further economic pressure. On his Truth Social platform, he announced a sweeping new trade measure: "Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America."
This tariff threat represents a significant escalation in the US campaign to isolate Iran economically, potentially affecting allies and trading partners worldwide. The Iranian regime has consistently blamed the internal unrest on external forces, labelling the protests as acts of "American-Zionist terrorism."
Other Key Developments from Washington
The day also saw several other major political stories emerge from the United States:
Federal Reserve Independence Under Attack: Every living former Federal Reserve Chair—Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, and Janet Yellen—has condemned an "unprecedented" attempt by the Trump administration to weaken the central bank's independence. This follows the Department of Justice opening a criminal investigation into the current Fed Chair, Jerome Powell.
Minnesota Sues Over ICE Surge: Minnesota's Attorney General, Keith Ellison, filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking to end a surge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the state. Ellison described the operation as a "federal invasion of the Twin Cities" that had made communities "less safe."
Greenland Rejects US Takeover: The government of Greenland has firmly rejected President Trump's renewed interest in acquiring the strategically important Arctic territory, stating it "cannot under any circumstances accept" such a move. Trump had said the US would take control "one way or the other."
Additional Headlines: News organisations urged protection for journalists covering ICE protests; Trump threatened to block ExxonMobil from Venezuela; experts warned his cannabis order would still leave users at risk; and the US Supreme Court prepared to hear a major case on bans for transgender athletes.
