White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has publicly stated that Trump holds the authority to use military action against Iran if necessary. The declaration draws attention to the administration's stance on executive powers concerning national security decisions and foreign policy engagements.

Administration's Position on Military Authority

Leavitt's statement affirms that the administration considers military action against Iran within the scope of presidential authority. The remarks signal a firm posture regarding the executive branch's capacity to respond to developments involving Iran, should circumstances warrant such a response.

Key Statement Details

The following summarizes the core details of the statement as reported:

Context and Implications

The statement reflects the administration's articulation of presidential powers in the domain of military and foreign affairs. Leavitt's remarks do not indicate any imminent action but rather affirm the legal and executive standing of the presidency to act in such matters. The declaration is consistent with broader discussions around executive authority in the context of international security.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley urged the Trump administration to maintain strict sanctions on Iran, arguing that Washington should starve the regime of money rather than ease up after a fragile ceasefire. Haley called for refusing to unfreeze Iranian assets and pressuring China and Russia to stop buying Iranian oil and supplying equipment to Tehran.

"Keep the sanctions on Iran. Don’t unfreeze their assets. Put the pressure on China and Russia to stop buying oil and supplying Iran with equipment," Haley wrote on X. She emphasized that the administration had done the bulk of the work and that reversing progress would be a waste, adding that Gulf states should support the pressure to stop Iran from accessing funds.

The post criticized the Trump administration’s recent memorandum of understanding with Iran, which ended hostilities, reopened the Strait of Hormuz toll-free, and opened the door to sanctions relief talks. Haley’s comments came in response to conservative radio host Mark Davis, who argued that while skepticism about Iran honoring deals was logical, critics needed to name realistic alternatives to military action.

The United States and Iran agreed to halt retaliatory strikes and resume technical talks in Doha, Qatar. The talks aim to salvage a fragile 14-point interim peace memorandum signed on June 17 after a three-day burst of attacks across the Middle East. The latest conflict reignited after Tehran attacked a container ship, prompting U.S. strikes on Iranian surveillance infrastructure, communications systems, air defenses, drone storage sites, and minelayer capabilities.

Haley has consistently criticized U.S. outreach to Tehran, pointing to a surge in hangings of dissidents as evidence of the regime’s anti-American posture. Earlier this month, she backed U.S. strikes on Iran, stating that Iran would always play games, and called for increased pressure on Russia and China over their support for Tehran.