US President Donald Trump is prepared to escalate military action against Iran if it does not comply with Washington’s demands, the White House said on Wednesday, warning Tehran against miscalculating the situation.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a briefing that Trump “does not bluff” and is ready to “unleash hell” if Iran refuses to abandon its nuclear ambitions and halt threats against the United States and its allies.
Leavitt said the US campaign against Iran was progressing faster than expected, with operations ahead of the initial four-to-six-week timeline outlined by the administration.
“Twenty-five days in, the greatest military the world has ever known is ahead of schedule and performing exceptionally,” she said during a briefing.
She added that Trump had earlier delayed potential strikes on Iranian power infrastructure after signals that Tehran was open to talks.
“President Trump is willing to listen,” Leavitt said, noting that Iran still had an opportunity to cooperate and avoid further escalation.
However, she warned that failure to do so would result in significantly intensified military action.
“If Iran fails to understand that they have been defeated militarily … President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before,” she said.
Leavitt also said the administration was closely monitoring global energy markets and working on measures to ensure safe passage for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.
She added that Vice President JD Vance has been actively involved in discussions related to the Iran conflict.
