The Latest: The White House defends its massive bombing campaign against Iran

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told ABC News on Monday morning that Iran was an 'imminent threat' and that President Donald Trump is the 'first president with the guts to actually do something about it.' She was definitive about the outcome of U.S. strikes, saying they 'took away Iran's ability to create a nuclear bomb.' Over the weekend, American stealth bombers, fighter jets and a submarine struck Iran with bombs and missiles – joining Israel's attempt to wipe out Iran's nuclear program.
Here's the Latest:
Trump just 'raising a question' about regime change
Leavitt said U.S. operations in the Middle East haven't changed despite Trump raising the possibility of toppling Iran's theocratic leaderships.
'The president was just simply raising a question that I think many people around the world are asking,' she told reporters on Monday morning.
She added, 'if they refuse to engage in diplomacy moving forward, why shouldn't the Iranian people rise up against this brutal terrorist regime?'
Leavitt says Democrats were notified about U.S. attack on Iran
Trump's bombardment of three sites in Iran quickly sparked debate in Congress over his authority to launch the strikes, with Republicans praising Trump for decisive action even as many Democrats warned he should have sought congressional approval.
Leavitt rejected accusations that Democrats were not given a heads up about the U.S. attack on Iran.
'We did make bipartisan calls,' Leavitt told Fox News. She said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries 'couldn't be reached.'
Traditionally, there are bipartisan briefings for congressional leaders, even for classified missions.
Leavitt insisted the White House was 'not obligated to tell anybody' about the plans but 'we gave these calls as a courtesy.'
Pakistan condemns Trump shortly after nominating him for Nobel
Pakistan condemned U.S. President Donald Trump for bombing Iran, less than 24 hours after saying he deserved a Nobel Peace Prize for defusing a recent crisis with India.
Relations between the two South Asian countries plummeted after a massacre of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir in April. The nuclear-armed rivals stepped closer to war in the weeks that followed, attacking each other until intense diplomatic efforts, led by the U.S., resulted in a truce for which Trump took credit.

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Winnipeg Free Press

37 minutes ago

• Winnipeg Free Press

Trump wants oil producers to pump more crude amid jitters that Iran may close critical shipping lane

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday called for the U.S. and other oil-producing economies to pump more oil as crude prices remain volatile following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump urged stepped-up production as the White House sharpened its warnings to Iran against closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas shipping lane, in retaliation for the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear program. 'To the Department of Energy: DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!! And I mean NOW!!!' Trump posted on social media. He added, 'EVERYONE, KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN. I'M WATCHING! YOU'RE PLAYING RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. DON'T DO IT!' The push by Trump comes at an uncertain moment as U.S. embassies and military installations in the Middle East are on high alert for potential retaliation. Global markets are trying to ascertain what lays ahead after the U.S. struck key Iranian nuclear facilities with a barrage of 30,000-pound bunker busting bombs and Tomahawk missiles. Iran's parliament has approved cutting off the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane in the Persian Gulf that about 20% of global oil and gas passes through. It's now up to Iran's national security council to decide whether to move forward with the idea, which could lead to a spike in the cost of goods and services worldwide. The price of oil jumped 4% shortly after trading began on Sunday night, but it quickly pared back as the focus shifted from what the U.S. military did to how Iran would react. Oil futures were flip-flopping in Monday morning trading between gains and losses. They still remain higher than they were before the fighting began a little more than a week ago. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned Tehran anew against closing the strait, saying, 'the Iranian regime would be foolish to make that decision.' The State Department has doubled the number of emergency evacuation flights it is providing for American citizens wishing to leave Israel, ordered the departure of nonessential staff from the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon. It also is stepping up travel warnings around the Middle East because of concerns Iran will retaliate against U.S. interests in the region. In an alert sent to all Americans worldwide and posted to its website on Sunday, the State Department warned all U.S. citizens abroad to exercise caution. The U.S. Embassy in Qatar issued an alert on its website Monday urging American citizens in the energy-rich nation to 'shelter in place until further notice,' although Qatar later said the situation was 'stable.' The embassy did not elaborate and did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Associated Press. Many energy industry analysts are skeptical that Iran would go forward with a full closure of the strait, something that it has threatened to do in the past. Iran would face the possibility of retaliation against its own shipments and the possibility that the move would upset China, the biggest purchaser of Iranian crude. The U.S. and allies pressed Russia in the leadup to Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine with threats to its oil industry, and then followed through as many Western oil companies pulled out of the country and the U.S. and Europe imposed sanctions on Russian industry. But Iran is far less integrated into the global economy than Russia, which was reliant on European markets for its oil and gas exports and still went forward with the invasion despite U.S. warnings. 'There's been a lot of suggestion as well that this isn't something that is incredibly likely, and that's generally attributed to economic interdependence, which I don't want to suggest doesn't matter. It absolutely does,' said Colby Connelly, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. Connelly added, 'if the 2020s have taught us anything so far, it's that economic ties don't always prevent conflict.' In another development Monday, Leavitt appeared to play down Trump calling into question the future of Iran's ruling theocracy, seemingly contradicting his administration's earlier calls on Tehran to resume negotiations and avoid an escalation in fighting. 'It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change???' Trump posted on social media. 'MIGA!!!' Leavitt said Trump's 'posture and our military posture has not changed.' 'The president was just simply raising a question that I think many people around the world are asking,' Leavitt said. ___ AP writers Stan Choe in New York, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Chris Megerian contributed reporting.

Global News

40 minutes ago

• Global News

Video shows moment Bernie Sanders learned of U.S. strikes on Iran

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was speaking in Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday during a 'Fight Oligarchy' tour speech when he learned — thanks to the crowd — of President Donald Trump's and the United States' decision to bomb Iran. Footage from the event shows an audience member yelling, 'We just bombed Iran!,' prompting a swell of bellowing anti-war cries, forcing Sanders to pause his address momentarily. The 83-year-old senator and former Democratic presidential candidate initially appeared stunned by the news, but gathered himself as a staffer ran onto the stage with a printed copy of Trump's statement, which he first read silently to himself. With a shake of his head, he then read the opening sentence aloud. 'We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran,' Bernie recited, before looking out into the audience, which had begun chanting 'no more war.' Story continues below advertisement 'I agree,' he said into the microphone. Sanders let the shouting continue before gesturing that he had more to say. He went on to call the news 'alarming' and Trump's actions 'grossly unconstitutional.' Visibly angry and upset, he said, 'All of you know that the only entity that can take this country to war is the U.S. Congress. The president does not have the right.' A wave of rapturous applause followed. 'I was talking a moment ago about the fact that we are living in one of the most difficult moments in the modern history of this country, and Trump just made it that much more difficult. That's just another burden we're going to have to carry, and that's just another message we're going to have to get out all over this country… the American people do not want more war, more death,' Sanders continued. Story continues below advertisement Other U.S. lawmakers questioned the legality of the strikes. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'While President Trump's decision may prove just, it's hard to conceive a rationale that's Constitutional. I look forward to his remarks tonight,' Rep. Warren Davidson, a Republican congressman for Ohio, wrote on X on Saturday. While President Trump's decision may prove just, it's hard to conceive a rationale that's Constitutional. I look forward to his remarks tonight. — Warren Davidson 🇺🇸 (@WarrenDavidson) June 22, 2025 In an address to the nation on Saturday night, Trump said, 'Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state-sanctioned sponsor of terror.' 'Tonight I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success,' he continued. 'Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.' Story continues below advertisement 1:25 Trump says Iran 'must now make peace' after US strikes on nuclear facilities Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also addressed the strikes on X, saying, 'The President's disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers. He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.' The President's disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers. He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 22, 2025 Story continues below advertisement Meanwhile, Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson and head of Iran's Center for Public Diplomacy, accused the United States of 'colluding with a war criminal and genocidal warmonger to wage an unjust war of aggression against our beloved nation in flagrant violation of fundamental principles of international law, the UN Charter, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).' It is now crystal clear that the U.S. administration has been colluding with a war criminal and genocidal warmonger to wage an unjust war of aggression against our beloved nation in flagrant violation of fundamental principles of international law, the UN Charter, and the Nuclear… — Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) June 22, 2025 The U.S. says it has issued a 'worldwide caution security alert' as Israel and Iran continue to trade renewed rounds of strikes less than two days after the U.S. hit Iranian nuclear sites.

CTV News

an hour ago

• CTV News

Sound Impressions Hearing Centre: Preparing for your hearing test

Israel strikes Iranian government targets as Trump muses about regime change. Follow for latest updates.