US President Donald Trump is considering fresh military strikes against Iran in the midst of massive anti-government demonstrations in the country that have led to a crackdown on protesters by the current regime in Tehran, according to White House sources.
Report by officials in Washington who are privy to the goings-on have indicated that Trump is being regularly briefed on the updates coming in from Iran as the death toll in the violence surrounding the protests increases to at least 116, with thousands others detained.
Trump has reiterated often his intent to “support” the people of Iran in the uprising against the government’s “mismanagement” of economy that has led to hyper-inflation. On Saturday, Trump said Iran will have “hell to pay” if it kills more protesters in its clampdown even as internet services remain suspended in the country.
Voicing strong support for the protests on Saturday, the US President wrote on Truth Social: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”
While reports from sources in the White House claim Trump may be considering strikes on non-military targets in Tehran, there has been no official word on the decision.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei signalled a coming clampdown, warning protesters to not “ruin their streets” at the behest of “foreign powers”.
Also Read: Protests surge in Iran amid internet clampdown; death toll rises
The demonstrations began in Tehran on December 28 following the collapse of the country’s currency, rial, which led to a sharp rise in prices of food and essential goods. However, they have only swelled in the two weeks since, with thousands pouring onto the streets demanding government ouster, even as the country’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi called on demonstrators to “seize” more cities.
With the unrest quickly escalating, rioters are clashing with police and attacking government buildings in Tehran and elsewhere.
Iranian authorities, including its top judge, ambassador to the US, and reformist President Massoud Pezeshkian have blamed the US for instigating the violent clashes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a post on X, wrote: “Believing that the Islamic Republic of Iran is like other countries, the US is pursuing the same measures by encouraging certain individuals to create chaos and riots.”
Khamenei has vowed that Iran “will not back down against vandals”.
If the US decides to strike Iran, it would be the second time in less than year, since the country last supported Israel in its military conflict with Iran in June, 2025 during a 12-day war in which Washington conducted airstrikes on Iran’s key nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
Tehran retaliated with a missile barrage on a US base in Qatar, resulting in no casualties.
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