Trump to hold press conference on Iran war after profanity-laden threats on social media

Trump Iran press conference: President plans address after social media threats

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

Donald Trump will hold a press conference on Iran after posting profanity-laden threats against Tehran on social media.

The White House announced the briefing late Tuesday, hours after Trump wrote online that Iran would face “total obliteration” if it attacked US forces.

The president’s posts mark his most aggressive public statements toward Tehran since taking office in January. Trump wrote on Truth Social that “any Iranian move against American troops will result in their complete and total destruction.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the briefing would cover “the administration’s Iran policy and recent developments in the region.” She declined to specify what triggered the president’s social media posts.

Trump’s threats come amid rising tensions following Israeli strikes on Iranian-linked targets in Syria. The Pentagon reported “unusual activity” by Iranian naval forces in the Persian Gulf over the weekend.

Defense officials who briefed lawmakers Tuesday said Iran had moved additional missile batteries along its coast. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss classified intelligence.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham praised Trump’s posture after leaving the classified briefing. “The president is sending exactly the right message to Tehran,” Graham told reporters at the Capitol.

Democratic lawmakers expressed alarm at the president’s language. “This is incredibly dangerous rhetoric that could provoke exactly what we want to avoid,” said Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who sits on the Foreign Relations Committee.

The press conference announcement caught some administration officials off guard. Three Pentagon officials told GlobalBeat they learned of the briefing from news reports, not internal communications.

Trump wrote his threats in all-capitals on Truth Social Tuesday morning. “IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON AND IF THEY ATTACK AMERICA THEY WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE,” the post read.

He followed with another message: “WE HAVE TARGETS LOCKED THROUGHOUT IRAN AND THEY WILL BE OBLITERATED IF THEY MAKE ANY WRONG MOVE.”

The posts drew thousands of responses within minutes. Some supporters praised Trump’s tough stance while foreign policy experts warned about escalating tensions through social media.

Iran’s UN mission did not respond to requests for comment. Iranian state media quoted an unnamed foreign ministry official calling Trump’s threats “psychological warfare.”

The crisis adds to existing tensions over Iran’s nuclear program. International inspectors reported last month that Tehran had enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels.

European diplomats have been trying to revive nuclear talks that collapsed in 2022. Those efforts now appear stalled amid the latest escalation.

Oil prices jumped 4% on news of Trump’s threats. Brent crude traded above $78 per barrel, its highest level since November.

Energy analysts warned conflict in the Persian Gulf could disrupt global supplies. Roughly 20% of world oil exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

US aircraft carriers already patrol nearby waters. The USS Carl Vinson strike group operates in the Arabian Sea while the USS Eisenhower remains in the Mediterranean.

Background

Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and imposed crushing sanctions on Tehran. The agreement, negotiated under President Obama, had limited Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Relations deteriorated further in 2020 after a US drone strike killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad. Iran responded by launching missiles at American bases in Iraq, injuring over 100 service members.

President Joe Biden tried to restart nuclear negotiations but talks stalled in 2022. Iran demanded guarantees that future US administrations wouldn’t abandon any deal, which Biden couldn’t provide.

Trump campaigned on taking a harder line against Iran. He has suggested bombing Iranian nuclear facilities while suggesting he could negotiate a better deal than his predecessors.

What’s Next

The White House scheduled Trump’s Iran press conference for Wednesday at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Officials said the president would take questions after making opening remarks about his Iran strategy.

Congressional leaders requested another classified briefing on Iran before week’s end. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters lawmakers needed “full visibility” into the administration’s planning.

The International Atomic Energy Agency board meets next week to discuss Iran’s nuclear activities. European members may push for a formal censure of Tehran’s recent enrichment advances.