President Donald Trump has announced that the United States is evaluating “very strong” military alternatives as anti-government protests in Iran intensify. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump emphasized that Washington is prepared to take direct action if the situation deteriorates further, noting that the U.S. military is already finalizing potential strategic plans.
The unrest, which began on December 28 due to economic distress, has evolved into a widespread movement demanding the resignation of Iran’s top leadership. According to human rights agencies, the ensuing crackdown by security forces has resulted in over 500 deaths and more than 10,600 arrests. However, the actual casualties could be higher due to an ongoing communication blackout.
In response to the U.S. warnings, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that any American aggression would be treated as an act of war. He warned that U.S. and Israeli assets in the Middle East would become “legitimate targets.” Meanwhile, Tehran has labeled the protests a Western conspiracy and organized pro-government rallies to counter the dissent, pushing regional stability to a breaking point.