Washington DC [US], January 12 (ANI): Amid escalating nationwide protests in Iran that have reportedly killed more than 500 people, US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) said the Islamic Republic appears to be crossing a “red line” set by his administration, prompting Washington to weigh what he described as “very strong options,” even as he claimed Tehran has reached out to negotiate.
Speaking to reporters onboard Air Force One, Trump said Iranian leaders had contacted Washington seeking diplomatic engagement. “They do. They called. Iran called to negotiate yesterday. The leaders of Iran called. They want to negotiate. I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” he said, adding that a meeting was being arranged but could be overtaken by events on the ground. “We may meet with them… but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting.”
Asked whether Iran had crossed a red line over its treatment of protesters, Trump said, “They’re starting to, it looks like,” alleging that the country’s leadership rules through violence. He said the situation was being closely monitored at the highest levels of the US government and that the military was reviewing options. “There seem to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed… we’re looking at it very seriously,” he said.
While Trump did not detail specific actions, a New York Times report said he had been briefed on a range of military options, including targeted strikes on select sites in Tehran, such as non-military infrastructure linked to the regime’s internal security apparatus, as part of contingency planning alongside diplomatic and economic measures.
Trump also issued a sharp warning after a reporter cited Iranian claims that US military and commercial bases would be considered legitimate targets if Washington struck Iran. “If they do that, we’ll consider things that they wouldn’t believe. We will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before,” he said, adding that Tehran would likely take the threat seriously given past US actions.
Earlier, Trump said the United States stood ready to help Iran as it looks at “freedom like never before,” writing on Truth Social: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”
Iran has been gripped by unrest for the past 15 days, with protests beginning on December 28 over soaring inflation and economic hardship before escalating into nationwide demonstrations and violent clashes with security forces. According to the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), at least 544 people have been killed, with dozens of cases still under investigation. More than 10,681 people have reportedly been detained, with demonstrations recorded at 585 locations across 186 cities in all 31 provinces.
Internet services have been shut down in the Islamic Republic for the past two days. When asked whether the US was considering enabling internet access in Iran, including via Elon Musk’s Starlink service, Trump said discussions were underway but no final decision had been made. “We may get the internet going. We may speak to Elon Musk; I am going to call him,” he said.
US Senator Lindsey Graham voiced strong support for Trump’s stance, suggesting US military action could be imminent. At a fundraising event, Graham said developments could unfold at any moment and called for an end to Iran’s current leadership. In a separate post on X, he said, “President Trump is not Obama. Freedom now, freedom forever for the long-suffering Iranian people. I believe your nation’s nightmare will soon be coming to an end. Make Iran Great Again.”
The situation continues to evolve as Washington balances diplomatic outreach with the possibility of military action amid mounting international concern over the violence in Iran.
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