Karoline Leavitt declares Iranian regime is ‘paying in blood’ for its ‘crimes against America’

WASHINGTON, DC: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed reporters on Wednesday, March 4, as the war between the United States and Iran entered its fifth day and continued spreading across the wider region.

Iranian authorities recently announced the postponement of the planned three-day funeral ceremony for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, citing ongoing security concerns and fears of possible US and Israeli airstrikes.

Karoline Leavitt’s remarks on Iran and the war

Leavitt said, “47 years of tolerating and enabling the world's leading state sponsor of te**orism are over.” She added, “Murderous te**orist leaders are paying for their crimes against America, and they are paying in blood.”

She said that since 1979, “the te**orist Iranian regime has actively and intentionally facilitated the killings of Americans.” She further noted that Iranian leaders “chant death to America and fund other radical te**orists who attack our country and are seeking to destroy Western civilization itself.” 

Leavitt highlighted several incidents involving Iran. She recalled the 1979 embassy seizure in Tehran, where 66 Americans were held hostage. She also referenced the truck bombing in Beirut that killed 241 US service members and said Iran “killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq,” describing these as “just a small fraction of their blood-soaked record.”

Leavitt criticized past US leadership, calling previous leaders “too weak and ineffective to address this threat.” She specifically mentioned former President Barack Obama, saying he “even sent pallets of cash that ultimately financed this te**orist crusade against the United States and our people.”

Defense briefing, Senate vote, and Trump’s position on Iran

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that “America is winning decisively” in the conflict and confirmed that “more forces are arriving.” He delivered the briefing alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine.

Trump responded to reports suggesting that anti-drone defenses might be in short supply due to heavy use, stating that the US has a “virtually unlimited supply” of “medium and upper medium grade” weapons. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar also denied claims that their inventories of Patriot interceptor missiles were running low.

The Senate also rejected a war powers resolution aimed at forcing Trump to pull back from the war in Iran. Introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine and Sen. Rand Paul, the measure failed 47-53, short of the 50 votes needed to advance it. Sen. John Fetterman, joined by Republicans, voted against the measure and supported the war. 

Leavitt addressed reports suggesting the US might arm Kurdish forces to foment an uprising in Iran. She said Trump “has held many calls with partners, allies, and leaders in the region.” She added that he “did speak to Kurdish leaders with respect to our base in northern Iraq,” but clarified that reports claiming he approved such a plan are “completely false and should not be written.”