As a US attack on Iran appears increasingly likely, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed on Wednesday that there are “many reasons” for the US to bomb the country, but declined to elaborate further, as the administration hasn’t given a coherent reason for the potential war.
Leavitt made the comments when asked why a potential attack on Iran was necessary after President Trump insisted for months that the US airstrikes launched against Iran during the 12-Day War in June 2025 “obliterated” the country’s nuclear facilities.
“Well, there are many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran,” Leavitt said. “The president had a very successful operation as commander-in-chief with Operation Midnight Hammer. As you know, as you just said, totally obliterated Iran’s nuclear facilities.”
Leavitt was then asked whether the president felt the need to make the case for war to the American people, potentially in his upcoming State of the Union address, but she declined to answer, saying she wouldn’t “engage in a hypothetical.”
Vice President JD Vance has claimed the US’s main demand of Iran is that it must not pursue nuclear weapons, but there’s no sign Tehran is able to enrich uranium following the US strikes on its nuclear facilities, and Iranian officials have been clear that they would agree to a deal where they would commit to enrichment levels far beyond the 90% needed for a weapon, a level they’ve never even attempted.
In recent weeks and months, President Trump has frequently threatened to bomb Iran or back an Israeli attack on the country and has repeatedly shifted the pretext. Back in December, he said he would back an Israeli attack if Iran “continued” its conventional missile program, then in January, he repeatedly threatened to attack over the protests in the country, and now appears to be back to the nuclear issue.
