White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday avoided giving a direct answer on whether the United States would collaborate with Israel to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities if the program is revived.
The question came from Colin Anderson of the Washington Free Beacon. He referred to a briefing by Israel’s Defense Minister, who claimed that the U.S. and Israel were aligned and prepared to act jointly if Iran attempted to rebuild its nuclear capabilities.
When pressed on the issue of coordination, Leavitt sidestepped a direct answer. She pivoted instead to a powerful declaration about American strength, framing Saturday’s actions as a deliberate message to the world.
“The president used strength on Saturday night,” she stated, adding that “the whole world saw that the United States is indeed the most lethal fighting force.” Her comments were a clear allusion to the recent U.s. precision airstrikes, though she offered no further details.
Leavitt continued by emphasizing that the administration remains focused on diplomacy. She said the president’s team, including Special Envoy Rob Malley, is in contact with Iran as well as Gulf and Arab states to reach an agreement.
On the broader U.S.–Israel relationship, Leavitt said the partnership remains strong and growing.
“We see a new era in which perhaps some of these Gulf and Arab states can sign on to the Abraham Accords,” she added. “That was one of the president’s most signature accomplishments in his first term. He’d like to see more of those countries sign on in this second term.”
She ended the exchange by reaffirming the president’s dual-track approach: a preference for diplomacy, but a readiness to use force when needed.
“He’s not afraid to use strength if we need to do it,” Leavitt said.
Her comments left open questions about the specifics of any U.S. military collaboration with Israel regarding Iran.
You have the administration publicly pushing for peace, but at the same time, their recent strikes and carefully chosen words keep the door wide open for more aggressive action.
That intentional mixed message was driven home when they immediately ended the discussion, allowing no follow-up questions on the topic.
