The White House has stated that military operations ordered by Donald Trump against Iran are aimed at eliminating the country’s capacity to develop nuclear weapons. Officials claim the strikes have successfully targeted Iran’s ballistic missile systems and naval forces.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a briefing that the U.S. military has achieved “dominance over the skies of Iran” and destroyed more than 120 Iranian naval vessels. She said the operation has significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities.
Leavitt described the campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury, as a critical effort to ensure Iran can no longer pose a threat to the United States. She emphasized that neutralizing such threats remains a central objective of the mission.
Addressing international relations, Leavitt defended Trump’s repeated calls for NATO allies to increase their contributions to collective security. She noted that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz provides major benefits to Europe, while highlighting that the U.S. is now a net exporter of oil.
“One of the President’s guiding principles is fairness,” she said, underscoring that American taxpayers and military personnel should not carry an unequal share of global security responsibilities.
On domestic matters, Leavitt responded to questions regarding White House staffing decisions, defending the nomination of Joe Kent for a counterterrorism role despite criticism over his past remarks. She said the President acted in the nation’s best interest and dismissed Kent’s resignation letter as containing “falsehoods.”
Leavitt added that the resignation does not change the administration’s position that Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.
She also provided an update on Trump’s delayed visit to China, stating that efforts are underway to reschedule the trip. “We’re working with them. They have agreed to postpone the trip…We’ll get the dates on the books as soon as we can,” she said, noting that both sides are managing domestic commitments in the months ahead.
