Washington: The United States is considering “very strong options,” including possible military action, in response to the escalating unrest in Iran, President Donald Trump said, signalling a sharp intensification of Washington’s posture as protests continue to shake the country.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One late Sunday, Trump said the US was closely monitoring the situation and that the military was actively assessing 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 also claimed that Iran’s leadership had reached out to “negotiate” following his warnings and that a meeting was being arranged, but cautioned that “we may have to act before a meeting,” as reported by Al Jazeera.
The remarks come amid intensifying demonstrations across Iran, where anger over economic hardship and political repression has spilled onto the streets. Tehran has sought to frame the unrest as a foreign-backed attempt to destabilise the country, urging citizens to rally behind the state against what it describes as external interference.
Over the weekend, Iranian opposition figures stepped up lobbying efforts in Washington, arguing that the scale of force used against protesters amounted to crimes against humanity. In a letter addressed to Trump, seven prominent Iranian political, civil and cultural personalities urged him to recognise the depth of repression unfolding inside the country. One opposition group warned that demonstrators might only be able to withstand the current level of police and military violence for a few more days.
Raza Pahlavi, the son of the last shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who claims to have some control over the protests has also appealed for Trump to act. In a post on X he urged Trump to help Iranian people liberate themselves and Make Iran Great Again!
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian struck a conciliatory yet defiant tone in a televised address on Sunday, appealing for unity and cautioning against what he described as an external campaign to exploit domestic discontent. He acknowledged that “80 per cent of the protesters have legitimate complaints” but drew a sharp line between peaceful dissent and what he called “rioters and terrorists” who were burning mosques and shops, according to The Guardian. Pezeshkian accused the United States of “using the economy as a weapon to make us bend down” and urged citizens to “stay and back us.”
The unfolding crisis places Iran at the centre of renewed geopolitical tension, with Washington’s rhetoric raising fears of another flashpoint in the Middle East. While Trump has left open the door to talks, his warning that action could precede diplomacy underscores the volatility of the moment, even as Iran’s leadership struggles to balance repression, reform and national cohesion.
