President Donald Trump has doubled down on his warning to Iran, announcing a 25% tariff on any country doing business with the Islamic Republic, while the White House reiterated the potential use of military force as anti-government protests continue.
Speaking to Fox News, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said diplomacy remained the president's "first option", but he was "unafraid to use the lethal force and might of the United States military if and when he deems that necessary". She added that airstrikes were "one of the many, many options" available to the commander-in-chief.
The remarks follow Trump's earlier threat to Iran's leadership: "You'd better not start shooting, because we'll start shooting too." Leavitt also said the president did not want to see people killed in the streets of Tehran, but acknowledged that was what was currently being witnessed.
The unrest in Iran has been described as the largest protest movement since 2009, though the regime has sought to downplay the demonstrations, attributing them to "American-Zionist terrorism".
