White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stood by President Donald Trump’s strong warnings to Iran amid the potential collapse of the Iran ceasefire agreement. Responding to a reporter during a press briefing, Leavitt defended Trump’s threat to Iran, stating that it was a forceful message that compelled the Iranian regime to back down and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
She emphasized that the threat was not empty, pointing out that the Pentagon had a target list ready for action at 8 p.m. the previous night if Iran did not comply. Trump had set a deadline for reaching an agreement, threatening to target civilian infrastructure if Iran did not agree to immediately and safely reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The President’s provocative rhetoric escalated as he issued explicit threats on Easter Sunday, warning of potential strikes on power plants and bridges in Iran if the strait was not opened. However, before the deadline passed, Trump announced that Iran had presented a basis for negotiation.
The resulting agreement paused hostilities for two weeks, with Iran committing to reopen shipping lanes through the strait. Despite this, the deal faces challenges as Israel continues attacks in Lebanon, a key aspect of the agreement.
Criticism of Trump’s aggressive negotiation tactics came from various quarters, including the United Nations and the Pope. UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed deep concern, while Pope Leo XIV labeled the threats as unacceptable. Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene even suggested invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office due to his actions.
Following the ceasefire declaration, several countries issued alerts about potential Iranian missile attacks. While the attacks briefly stopped, they resumed shortly thereafter.
