The White House issued a stark warning to Iran Tuesday, saying President Donald Trump is prepared to “unleash hell” if Tehran refuses to step back from its nuclear ambitions and its ongoing threats against the United States and its allies.
“President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at the beginning of Wednesday’s White House press briefing. “Iran should not miscalculate again. Their last miscalculation cost them their senior leadership, their navy, their air force and their air defense system.
“Any violence beyond this point will be because the Iranian regime refused to understand they have already been defeated and refused to come to a deal.”
Leavitt said ongoing U.S. military operations, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, have severely weakened Iran’s offensive capabilities. She claimed more than 9,000 targets have been struck, Iranian missile and drone attacks have fallen by about 90% and much of Iran’s navy and air defense network has been destroyed.
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“This is the largest elimination of a navy over a three-week period since World War II,” she said. “Again, let me reiterate, this is the largest elimination of a navy on the face of the planet in a three-week period since World War II.”
Leavitt said the campaign is aimed at crippling Iran’s military infrastructure and securing the Strait of Hormuz, while also pressuring Tehran to return to talks. She added that Trump has temporarily delayed planned strikes on some energy targets to allow space for negotiations.
“From the outset, President Trump and the Department of War estimated it would take approximately four to six weeks to achieve this critical mission: 25 days in the greatest military the world has ever known is ahead of schedule and performing exceptionally day by day,” Leavitt said. “The Iranian regime is being crippled, and their ability to threaten the United States and our allies is being significantly weakened.
“Their ambitions of building a nuclear weapon have also been crushed to an even greater degree than they were in Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025. That’s why you’re beginning to see the regime look for an exit ramp.”
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Leavitt declined to comment on reports of the 82nd Airborne Division being prepped for potential action in the Middle East.
“We are meeting our goals of Operation Epic Fury expeditiously,” she replied. “The president likes to maintain options at his disposal. It’s the Pentagon’s job to provide those options to the commander in chief.”
She redirected any specifics on troop deployments to the Pentagon.
Despite saying the president prefers peace, Leavitt warned that any further Iranian resistance would bring even heavier U.S. retaliation.
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“There does not need to be any more death and destruction, but if Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before,” she warned.
As the joint U.S.-Israeli war on Iran entered its fourth week, there have been efforts by multiple countries such as Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt to mediate.
Iran is still reviewing a U.S. proposal to end the war despite an initial response that was negative, a senior Iranian official told Reuters Wednesday.
Talks with Iran were still ongoing, Leavitt said.
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“They are productive, as the president said on Monday, and they continue to be,” she added.
Citing unnamed sources, media outlets Tuesday reported that Washington sent Tehran a 15-point plan on ending the war. Leavitt said Wednesday that elements of the reports were not fully accurate, but she did not provide specifics.
“The White House never confirmed that full plan,” she said. “There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual, so I am not going to negotiate on behalf of the president here at the podium.”
Global equity markets regained some ground while oil prices dipped on Wednesday after the reports about the plan, with investors hoping for an end to a war that has disrupted global energy supplies and raised inflation concerns.
Reuters contributed to this report.
