President Trump has been informed about new military strike options regarding Iran, according to a senior U.S. official. This briefing comes amid escalating unrest in Iran, with nationwide protests challenging the theocratic regime entering their third week.
During a recent address at the White House, Trump indicated his threshold for intervention, stating that if the Iranian government were to resort to “killing people like they have in the past,” the U.S. would respond decisively. “We’ll be hitting them very hard where it hurts,” he asserted, clarifying that this would not necessarily involve ground troops.
On social media, Trump expressed solidarity with the Iranian protesters, suggesting that they are on the brink of achieving unprecedented freedom and that the U.S. stands ready to assist them. This statement comes as reports indicate that at least 538 individuals have died in violence associated with the demonstrations, with fears that the true death toll may be significantly higher. Additionally, over 10,600 arrests have been documented, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency.
Reports from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal suggest that while military options have been presented to Trump, he has yet to make a definitive decision. Further options are expected to be discussed on Tuesday. As of now, there has been no movement of U.S. forces in preparation for potential strikes.
U.S. capabilities include various military options, potentially involving cyber attacks. A U.S. official confirmed that the Trump administration supports Elon Musk’s initiative to provide Starlink terminals in Iran, which would enable protesters to circumvent government-imposed communication restrictions. However, Starlink has not responded to inquiries regarding this matter.
The U.S. has imposed heavy sanctions on Iran, which have recently been intensified. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated on “Face the Nation” that Trump offers “moral support” for actions in Iran, though he refrained from discussing whether the U.S. might intercept vessels transporting Iranian oil intended for the black market. “The people in Iran are rising up because they feel there’s a strong America that has their back,” Wright added.
Iran’s government continues to assert that the protests are fueled by external agitators, specifically the U.S. and Israel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently held discussions regarding the protests and broader regional issues.
In a warning from Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, he stated that U.S. military personnel and Israel would be considered “legitimate targets” should the U.S. choose to strike Iran. He emphasized that Iran would not limit its response to post-attack actions and would act on any perceived threats.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei echoed these sentiments, claiming that the U.S. does not understand Iran and predicting failure for U.S. efforts, citing past miscalculations as evidence.
Currently, there are approximately 2,000 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq, with bases that have previously been attacked by Iranian-aligned militias. U.S. military presence is also prominent across the Middle East, including key installations in Qatar and Bahrain.
In June, Iran retaliated against U.S. airstrikes by launching a missile at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, a member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed strong opposition to U.S. military intervention in Iran. He cautioned that such actions could lead to the Iranian regime blaming the U.S. for its own failures, thereby undermining the current protests. Kaine advocated for maintaining sanctions, referencing their effectiveness against the Assad regime in Syria, which ultimately led to a significant shift in power.
When asked whether the shooting of protesters would constitute a “red line” for military action, a senior U.S. official indicated that only Trump could define such a threshold. The White House and State Department have not provided details on specific military options under consideration.
The protests in Iran ignited on December 28, driven by the collapse of the national currency and exacerbated by the economic strain of international sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. What began as a financial grievance has evolved into a broader challenge to Iran’s ruling authority.
