White House says Trump's first option on Iran is diplomacy, but military force is possible

The White House has stated that diplomacy is President Trump's first option for dealing with Iran, but it also noted that 'lethal force' remains on the table. This comes amid heightened tensions, with the U.S. sending its largest aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf and reports of increased drone activity in the region.

Analysts and reports describe Trump as facing a set of difficult and sometimes conflicting options, ranging from pursuing talks to considering more aggressive actions like regime change. Meanwhile, U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf are warning Washington that Iranian missiles pose a serious threat to their interests.