"All Options Remain on the Table," White House Warns
European Troop Deployment to Greenland "Has No Impact on Trump"
On January 15 (local time), the White House warned that "serious consequences will follow if the killings continue," stating that 800 executions scheduled in Iran had been halted in connection with the Iranian government's harsh crackdown on anti-government protests.
During a briefing that day, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt stated, "President Donald Trump is aware that the 800 executions that were scheduled in Iran yesterday have been suspended," adding, "The President and his team are closely monitoring the situation."
Press Secretary Leavitt said, "The President and his team have communicated to the Iranian regime that 'serious consequences will follow if the killings continue,'" and emphasized, "All options remain on the table."
These remarks appear to indicate that the possibility of military action against Iran, which had previously been warned, has not been ruled out.
Regarding the situation in Iran, Press Secretary Leavitt revealed that President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a phone call. However, she did not provide details about the conversation.
Earlier that day, The New York Times reported, citing senior U.S. officials, that Prime Minister Netanyahu had asked President Trump to delay plans for a military strike against Iran. The New York Times also cited Arab officials as saying that Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Egypt had requested the Trump administration to refrain from attacking Iran.
Meanwhile, in response to the deployment of troops from major European countries such as Denmark, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom to Greenland, a Danish territory in which the United States has shown interest, Press Secretary Leavitt stated, "We do not see this affecting the President's decision-making, nor does it impact the goal of securing Greenland."
These countries explain that the troop deployment is for the "Operation Arctic Endurance" exercise, aimed at defending key facilities in Greenland. However, some interpret this as a move by European NATO member states to support Denmark, which is under pressure from the United States, the leading NATO country.
The previous day at the White House, a trilateral high-level meeting on Greenland was held, attended by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, and Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt. Although no clear conclusion was reached, it was decided to form a working group to continue discussions.
Press Secretary Leavitt described the trilateral high-level meeting as "productive" and stated, "The Trump administration will continue its dialogue with the Danish and Greenlandic delegations." She also emphasized, "The President's priorities are clear," adding, "President Trump believes the United States should acquire Greenland, as it is in the best interest of U.S. national security."
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