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US President Donald Trump said Washington is weighing “very strong options” in response to Iran’s violent crackdown on anti-government protests, including the possibility of military action.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One late Sunday, Trump said the US military is actively reviewing potential responses. “We’re looking at it very seriously. The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination,” he said.
Trump claimed Iran’s leadership had reached out to request negotiations following his warnings of possible military action, adding that plans were underway for a meeting. However, he cautioned that action could come before talks take place.
Tehran did not immediately respond to Trump’s comments.
Earlier on Sunday, Iranian officials issued strong warnings against foreign intervention. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said any attack on Iran would prompt retaliation against Israel as well as US military bases and naval assets in the region.
The unrest in Iran began on December 28, after traders at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar shut their shops in protest against the sharp decline of the Iranian rial. Demonstrations quickly spread across the country, expanding from economic grievances to broader opposition against Iran’s clerical leadership, which has ruled since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of the security forces have been killed, while opposition groups abroad claim the death toll is significantly higher and includes hundreds of protesters. Monitoring organizations say a nationwide internet shutdown has now lasted more than 72 hours.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said his government was willing to hear public concerns but urged citizens to stop what he described as “rioters” and “terrorist elements.” In an interview with state broadcaster IRIB, he accused Israel and the United States—who fought a 12-day war with Iran last June—of orchestrating the unrest, claiming foreign actors were exploiting economic issues to destabilize the country.
The crisis comes as Trump pursues an aggressive foreign policy agenda. A US official told Reuters that Trump was scheduled to meet senior advisers on Tuesday to discuss Iran. According to The Wall Street Journal, the options under consideration include military strikes, covert cyber operations, expanded sanctions, and digital support for anti-government groups.
Trump also said he plans to speak with billionaire Elon Musk about restoring internet access in Iran, noting SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service has previously been used there.
In addition, Trump addressed other foreign policy issues, confirming upcoming meetings with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and repeating assurances that oil companies investing in Venezuela would be protected under his administration.
He also reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland, urging the Danish territory to “make a deal” and claiming China and Russia were increasing their military presence in the region—an assertion that has not been independently verified. Trump argued that US control of Greenland is essential for national security, stating, “One way or another, we’re going to have Greenland.”
