Trump Considers "Strong Military Options" Amid Iran Protests

Protests Continue in Iran as Trump Explores Military Options

President Donald Trump has stated that the American military is considering "very strong options" regarding Iran, as anti-government protests continue into their third week. Human rights activist news agency HRANA has confirmed that nearly 500 protesters and 48 security personnel have died, with BBC sources suggesting that the death toll could be significantly higher.

Trump has threatened intervention, noting that Iranian officials have contacted him "to negotiate"—but he added that "we may have to act before a meeting." Iranian leaders have labeled the demonstrators as a "group of vandalism" and called on their supporters to attend pro-government rallies on Monday.

The government has also announced three days of national mourning for what it called "martyrs" fallen in a "national battle against the United States and Israel"—two countries Tehran accuses of fueling the unrest. Anger over the depreciation of the national currency sparked protests in December, evolving into a legitimacy crisis for Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Trump did not provide further details about the military options under consideration or the proposed negotiations, although he mentioned that "a meeting is in the process of being organized" with Iranian officials. He added that Iranian leaders "want to negotiate" because they are "tired of being beaten by the United States."

An American official told CBS, a partner of BBC, that Trump had been informed of options for military strikes against Iran. Alternative approaches might include supporting anti-government sources online, utilizing cyber weapons against the Iranian military, or imposing new sanctions. Protests continued Sunday night, although at a reduced scale compared to previous days, amid fears of an intensified crackdown by the Iranian government.

According to HRANA, at least 10,600 people have been detained in the past two weeks of unrest. Additionally, reports indicate large accumulations of corpses at hospitals and forensic facilities, with some bodies being urgently buried by authorities before sunrise, limiting the chances of identification. City workers have cleared debris, burned vehicles, and bloodstains from the streets.

As demonstrations persist, multiple sources in Iran report that drones are constantly flying over crowds and neighborhoods to identify and monitor protesters. Most international news organizations are unable to report from Iran, and the Iranian government has imposed an internet blackout since Thursday, complicating the ability to gather and verify information.