President Donald Trump’s administration has declared that the United States is prepared to use military force against Iran if necessary, even as the White House emphasises that diplomacy remains its primary course of action.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Mr. Trump is “unafraid to use the lethal force and might of the United States military” should conditions warrant, with airstrikes among the options under consideration by the commander-in-chief.

The comments were made against the backdrop of Iran’s largest protest movement in years, which has drawn international attention after reports of hundreds of fatalities and thousands of arrests during violent government crackdowns.

Leavitt underscored that diplomatic engagement is still the administration’s first option and that Mr. Trump continues to monitor communications from Iranian leaders, noting differences between public rhetoric and private signals.

Mr. Trump himself said that Iran had shown an interest in negotiations and that efforts to arrange talks were underway, but he reiterated that action could be taken before any meeting if the situation deteriorates further.

The president has also imposed a twenty-five percent tariff on any nation doing business with Iran as part of broader pressure on Tehran.

Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have warned that any military action would prompt retaliation against U.S. and allied targets and have described Iran as prepared for war if foreign forces intervene.

The United States’ stance reflects a dual-track approach of holding open the possibility of negotiations while maintaining a credible deterrent posture.

Regional partners and international observers have called for restraint on all sides as protests continue and the humanitarian toll mounts, even as Washington signals it will not shy away from forceful measures to protect U.S. interests and support fundamental rights in the region.