White House Denies Trump Suggested Iran Could Strike US Cities

· Politics · United States · Iran

The White House denied that US President Donald Trump suggested Iran should 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego, after he told a rally in Nebraska that Iran could hit a major US city, drawing a swift rebuke from California's Democratic leaders and some fellow Republicans. The White House said Trump was warning of the risk of a nuclear Iran. Governor Gavin Newsom called the remarks 'deranged' and 'disgusting'. Proliferation watchers noted Iran lacks a nuclear program to build weapons capable of reaching California. Separately, Vice President JD Vance said in an interview that Iran must make a 'meaningful' reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity to satisfy US demands and end the countries' seven-month war, even as Washington was unsure how Tehran makes decisions in negotiations.

Why it matters：US rhetoric and demands over Iran's nuclear program shape the trajectory of a seven-month war and the risk of wider Middle East escalation.

Key points

  • Trump said Iran could 'take out' a major US city; the White House said he warned of a nuclear Iran.
  • Governor Newsom called the remarks 'deranged' and 'disgusting'; some Republicans also objected.
  • Vance said Iran must make a 'meaningful' enrichment cut to end the seven-month war.

Sources (original reporting)

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