US President Donald Trump has been briefed on potential military options against Iran as nationwide protests intensify and spread abroad, multiple US officials told the New York Times. The demonstrations, sparked on December 28 by a currency crisis and rising living costs, have so far left at least 72 dead and over 2,300 detained, despite a near-total internet blackout.
Trump has not made a final decision but is reportedly considering limited strikes targeting Iranian security sites if Tehran escalates its crackdown. Iranian authorities, led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, have signaled no retreat, with Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad warning that protesters could face the death penalty as “enemies of God.” Some demonstrators have rallied behind exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, calling for a return to monarchy.
The unrest has drawn global attention, with solidarity protests in cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, and Washington. In London, a protester replaced Iran’s flag at the embassy with the pre-1979 “Lion and Sun” emblem.
Trump has warned Iran against lethal force, stressing any US response would avoid ground troops but could “hit them very hard where it hurts.” He also affirmed US readiness to support Iranians seeking freedom. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the protests alongside regional developments in Syria and Gaza.
Senior US officials emphasized that any military action would need to balance punishing Tehran without strengthening domestic support for the regime or triggering retaliation against US forces. The deliberations follow Trump’s “Midnight Hammer” strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities six months ago, which provoked missile attacks from Tehran and renewed nuclear negotiations.
