Trump considers military strikes in Iran amid crackdown on protests

BEIRUT — President Donald Trump was recently briefed on new options for possible military strikes against Iran — including non-military sites in Tehran — as protests escalate and concerns grow over a harsh crackdown, The New York Times reported Saturday, citing U.S. officials.

"No final decision has yet been made," these sources told the NYT, noting that the president "is seriously considering authorizing a strike" in response to the Iranian regime’s efforts to suppress protests fueled by deep economic grievances.

At least 192 protesters have been killed in two weeks of demonstrations, Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based organization, said Sunday, warning that the toll could be much higher, as an internet blackout for several days made it difficult to count.

"Various scenarios have been presented to the president, including strikes targeting non-military sites in Tehran," officials told the NYT, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Washington fears 'backfire' from possible strikes

Also according to the NYT, quoting senior U.S. officials, "at least some of the options presented to Trump regarding Iran would directly target elements of the security forces involved in the violent crackdown on ongoing protests."

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At the same time, they stressed, Washington must ensure that any potential military strikes do not "backfire" by "rallying the Iranian population around the regime," or "trigger reprisals that could threaten U.S. military and diplomatic personnel in the region."

A senior U.S. military official also told the paper that "commanders deployed in the region would like more time before any possible strike, in order to strengthen U.S. military positions and prepare defenses against potential Iranian retaliatory strikes."

According to U.S. officials, "any military action should strike a balance between Donald Trump’s desire to punish the regime in Tehran for cracking down on protesters and the need not to further inflame the situation."

Asked by the paper about planning possible strikes, the White House referred to President Trump’s recent public statements and social media posts. "It seems to me people are taking control of certain cities, something no one would have thought possible a few weeks ago," Trump said Friday, noting that Iran had "big problems."

The day before, he had reiterated his threats to "strike very hard" in the event of a deadly crackdown, applauding the "enthusiasm" of Iranians "to overthrow this regime." "The United States supports the brave Iranian people," wrote U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

As the protest movement, which began in Tehran on Dec. 28 with merchants denouncing high living costs and the devaluation of the currency, has spread to many cities and gained momentum in recent days, the U.S. president reiterated Saturday that Washington stands "ready to help."

These protests are the largest in Iran since those that occurred after the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for violating the strict dress code for women. They come as the country is weakened after the war with Israel and blows to several of its regional allies, while the U.N. reinstated sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program in September. The U.S. president’s threats come just over six months after he ordered strikes last June against three Iranian nuclear sites.