Trump Signals “Strong Options” as Iran Unrest Escalates

Picture Credit: Axios

US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington is weighing “very strong options” in response to Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests, raising the possibility of military action amid rapidly escalating tensions. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One late Sunday, Trump said the US military was actively reviewing scenarios and that a decision could be made even before planned talks with Iranian representatives.

Trump claimed that Iran’s leadership had reached out to negotiate following his recent threats, with a meeting now being arranged. However, he cautioned that diplomacy may not be enough to avert action. “We may have to act before a meeting,” he said, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Tehran has yet to officially respond to Trump’s remarks.

Iranian officials, meanwhile, have issued sharp warnings against any foreign intervention. Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said any attack on Iran would prompt retaliation against Israel as well as US bases and naval assets in the region. The standoff comes as protests that began on December 28 over the collapsing value of the Iranian rial have spread across the country, evolving into broader demonstrations against the clerical leadership that has ruled since 1979.

The human cost of the unrest remains contested. Iranian state media says at least 109 security personnel have been killed, while opposition groups abroad claim the death toll includes over 2400 protesters. A nationwide internet shutdown, now stretching beyond three days, has further deepened international concern. President Masoud Pezeshkian said the government was willing to hear public grievances but blamed “rioters” and foreign-backed actors, accusing the US and Israel of fueling instability.

The crisis is unfolding against the backdrop of Trump’s aggressively interventionist foreign policy. A US official told Reuters that options under consideration include military strikes, cyber operations, expanded sanctions, and support for opposition networks. Trump also said he plans to speak with Elon Musk about restoring internet access in Iran, potentially through SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service.

Beyond Iran, Trump used the opportunity to reiterate hardline positions on other global flashpoints. He confirmed upcoming talks with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and repeated claims that US protection would make Venezuela safe for foreign oil investment. He also doubled down on his controversial stance on Greenland, insisting the US would acquire the Danish territory “one way or another” for strategic reasons.

As protests intensify and rhetoric hardens, the Iran crisis is fast becoming a defining test of Trump’s foreign policy, one with implications that extend far beyond the Middle East.