White House Spokesperson Caroline Leavitt:
"You see, the Iranians shout 'Death to America,' so you tell me whether that counts as a threat."
Caroline's statement is part of an "maximum pressure" strategy. Leavitt cited this statement mainly to prove that Iran poses a "sustained threat" to the United States, thus laying the groundwork for the Trump administration's hardline stance of "prioritizing diplomacy, but not excluding the use of force."
Recent tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been in a state of uncertainty between war and peace. The White House repeatedly emphasized that diplomacy is the "preferred option," but also clearly stated that Trump is prepared to use "deadly force" when necessary.
The U.S. strategy is quite straightforward, with both military and diplomatic approaches being pursued simultaneously. On one hand, the U.S. has significantly increased its military deployment in the Middle East, while on the other hand, it is engaging in indirect negotiations with Iran mediated by Oman.
There are different voices within the U.S., although Trump claims that a military action would be "easy to win," media reports reveal that high-ranking military officials have serious concerns about the risks and consequences of such actions.
Caroline's words seem to imply that since the Iranians say "Death to America," the U.S. has the right to let the Iranians die first. This implies an increased risk of war.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1858058599201804/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.