Trump weighing ‘very strong options’ for US response on Iran as protest death toll swells
President Donald Trump said he is weighing “very strong options,” including potential military action, in response to Iran’s violent crackdown on anti-regime protests. He told reporters aboard Air Force one the military is reviewing options and that the U.S. “may have to act before a meeting,” after Iran reportedly sought talks about a possible nuclear deal. Trump said the regime is beginning to cross his red line and that he is receiving hourly updates as the situation worsens. U.S.-based rights groups estimate the protest death toll has surpassed 500 in about two weeks, with tens of thousands arrested. Iran has threatened preemptive strikes on nearby U.S. bases if attacked; Trump warned the U.S. would respond more forcefully.
Trump weighing ‘very strong options’ for US response on Iran as protest death toll swells
President Donald Trump said on Sunday night that he is considering “very strong options” for a U.S. military response to Iran‘s violent crackdown on anti-regime protesters.
“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,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Trump also revealed that Iran has reached out about negotiating a possible nuclear deal after Trump withdrew the United States from the previous one during his first term. But he stressed that the U.S. “may have to act before a meeting,” adding that the regime is “starting” to cross his red line, where he previously vowed U.S. intervention if they killed protesters.
“They’re starting to [cross it]. It looks like [it]. There seem to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed. … They rule through violence,” he said.
The president added that he is receiving “hourly” reports on the situation, which is worsening.
Multiple U.S-based human rights groups have indicated that the death toll from the protests is now over 500 just two weeks after they began in late December. Arrests also number in the tens of thousands.
IRAN SAYS US AND ISRAEL ‘LEGITIMATE TARGETS’ IF TRUMP ORDERS STRIKES OVER PROTESTS
Iran has previously threatened preemptive strikes on nearby U.S. bases if Trump were to greenlight a military response.
Trump warned on Sunday if that were to happen, the U.S. “will hit them harder than they imagine.”
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