White House says Trump could end Iran war without Tehran’s ‘unconditional surrender’

Published March 10, 2026 3:20pm ET



White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that President Donald Trump could end Operation Epic Fury without a surrender from Tehran.

Leavitt was asked by reporters at a press briefing on the official timeline for the war, given that Iranian state media was disputing Trump’s comments that the conflict was “very close to ending.” Last week, Trump wrote in a statement that he had ruled out a diplomatic accord with the Iranian government and that the military engagement would only end with Tehran’s “unconditional surrender.”

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