WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 — Amid massive protests across several provinces in Iran that have reportedly left more than 500 people dead, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the Islamic Republic appears to be crossing a “red line” set by his administration, prompting Washington to consider what he described as “very strong options.”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked whether Iran had crossed the red line he had drawn over the treatment of protesters. “They’re starting to, it looks like,” he said.
Referring to the ongoing unrest in the Islamic Republic, Trump added that those in power were ruling through violence and said the situation was being closely monitored at the highest levels of the US government.
“There seem to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed. These are violent — if you call them leaders, I don’t know if they’re leaders or if they just rule through violence — but we’re looking at it very seriously. The military’s looking at it. We’re looking at some very strong options; we’ll make a determination,” Trump said.
The US President did not elaborate on specific actions Washington might take. However, according to a New York Times report, Trump has been briefed on a range of military options targeting Iran.
The report said the options presented include targeted strikes on select sites in Tehran, including non-military infrastructure linked to the regime’s internal security apparatus. The briefings are part of contingency planning as the administration evaluates diplomatic, economic, and military tools to deter further violence by Iranian authorities.
Earlier, Trump said the US stands ready to help Iran, which he said is looking at “freedom” like never before. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”
For the past 15 days, Iran has been grappling with severe unrest and protests across several provinces over soaring inflation and economic hardship. The demonstrations have escalated into nationwide unrest, marked by violent clashes between protesters and security forces.
According to the press wing of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, at least 544 people have been killed during the anti-government demonstrations, while dozens of other cases remain under investigation. More than 10,681 individuals have been taken into custody and transferred to prisons, with protests reported at 585 locations nationwide across 186 cities in all 31 provinces.
The protests began on December 28 and spread rapidly across multiple cities, with authorities responding through arrests, crackdowns, and the use of force.
US Senator Lindsey Graham also voiced support for Trump, saying the “nation’s nightmare will soon be coming to an end.” In a post on X, Graham 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.”
Meanwhile, internet services have been shut down in the Islamic Republic for the past two days. When asked whether his administration was considering enabling internet access in Iran, including through Elon Musk’s Starlink service, Trump said discussions were underway but no final decision had been made.
“We are going to be talking about that. We may get the internet going. We may speak to Elon Musk; I am going to call him,” the US President said.
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