World desk 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told ABC News on Monday that Iran poses an “imminent threat” and praised President Donald Trump as the “first president with the courage to take decisive action.” She claimed that recent U.S. military strikes have effectively “eliminated Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear bomb.”

Over the weekend, American stealth bombers, fighter jets, and a submarine carried out coordinated strikes on Iran, in what appeared to be a joint effort with Israel to dismantle Tehran’s nuclear program.

US signals willingness to renew talks with Iran and avoid prolonged war

Trump ‘just raising a question’ on regime change

Leavitt clarified that U.S. policy in the Middle East remains unchanged, despite Trump recently suggesting the possibility of overthrowing Iran’s theocratic leadership.

“The president was merely raising a question that many around the world are asking,” she told reporters.

Leavitt also remarked, “If Iran refuses to engage in diplomacy, why shouldn’t the Iranian people rise up against this oppressive, terrorist regime?”

Trump keeps Iran strike decision unclear as tensions escalate

Leavitt says Democrats were notified about U.S. attack on Iran

President Trump’s airstrikes on three locations in Iran have quickly ignited a political debate in Washington over whether he had the authority to carry out the attacks without congressional approval. While Republicans largely applauded Trump’s decisive action, many Democrats argued that he should have consulted Congress beforehand.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed claims that Democrats were kept in the dark regarding the operation.

“We did make bipartisan calls,” Leavitt said during an interview with Fox News, adding that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries “couldn’t be reached.”

Typically, congressional leaders from both parties receive briefings in advance of significant or classified military operations. However, Leavitt emphasized that the administration had no formal obligation to inform anyone, stating, “We made these calls as a courtesy, not because we were required to.”

Pakistan condemns Trump shortly after nominating him for Nobel

Pakistan strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for launching airstrikes on Iran, just a day after praising him as a deserving candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in easing recent tensions between Pakistan and India.

Ties between the two South Asian neighbors deteriorated sharply following the massacre of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir in April. The situation escalated into cross-border attacks, bringing the nuclear-armed countries to the brink of war. However, diplomatic intervention—primarily led by the United States—helped broker a ceasefire, an achievement Trump claimed as his own.