The White House and Iran: Military and diplomatic options remain open
Amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the White House that the United States is pursuing a dual strategy in dealing with Iran, combining the threat of military force with keeping diplomatic channels open. This stance comes as Iran experiences a wave of widespread internal protests, which authorities are met with a violent crackdown, prompting strong international condemnation.
Trump's strategy: All options are on the table
White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt clarified that President Donald Trump is not ruling out any option, including airstrikes, in response to the crackdown on protesters in Iran. Leavitt stated in a press briefing, "President Trump is very good at keeping all of his options on the table. Airstrikes would be one of the many options available to the commander-in-chief."
Despite this escalating tone, Levitt stressed that "diplomacy is always the president's first choice," noting a discrepancy between the Iranian regime's declared hostile rhetoric and the messages the US administration receives through back channels, and emphasizing the president's interest in seriously exploring the content of these messages.
Back channels of communication and Tehran's position
On the other hand, Tehran announced its readiness for both war and negotiation scenarios simultaneously. The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed the existence of an "open" channel of communication with the US President's Special Envoy, Steve Wittkopf. President Trump had revealed that the Iranian leadership contacted him with the intention of negotiating after he threatened military intervention, saying: "Iran's leaders called and a meeting is being arranged. They want to negotiate, but we may have to act before a meeting can take place" if the killing of protesters continues.
Context of the crisis and its regional impacts
These developments are particularly significant given the historical context of chronically strained US-Iranian relations, which have persisted for decades. The current threats come at a critical juncture for the region, with observers fearing that any direct military action could destabilize the Middle East and disrupt global energy markets.
Human rights reports indicate that the crackdown, which has been ongoing for approximately 15 days in Iran, has resulted in the deaths of nearly 650 protesters. Analysts believe that the current US pressure aims to exploit the internal crisis in Tehran to push it toward political concessions, while Tehran is attempting to maneuver by demonstrating diplomatic flexibility to avoid military strikes that could threaten the regime's survival amidst the popular unrest.
Levitt concluded her remarks by emphasizing the humanitarian aspect of the crisis, noting that President Trump "certainly does not want to see people being killed in the streets of Tehran, and unfortunately that is what we are seeing now," which places the international community before its responsibilities regarding what is happening.
