Trump warns Iran of military response over violent protest crackdown

What Trump says

According to the US President, the military is already analyzing possible scenarios for action.

"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 says.

What options is White House considering

Earlier, CNN, citing sources, reported that Trump had been briefed on several plans for military intervention. They involve neutralizing the Iranian security forces that the regime uses to disperse protests.

In addition to a direct military strike, the US administration is considering alternative methods of pressure:

• cyberattacks on Iranian military facilities to disrupt communications between security forces
• new sanctions against the energy and banking sectors
• providing protesters with access to Starlink satellite internet.

Trump said he plans to discuss with Elon Musk the possibility of giving Iranians access to Starlink to bypass state censorship.

Concerns in US administration

At the same time, some advisers warn that military strikes could backfire and lead to the population rallying around the Iranian authorities or provoke a large-scale military response from Tehran.

Additional national security briefings are scheduled for Tuesday.

At the same time, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that in the event of US military action, American military bases would become legitimate targets.

"We do not limit ourselves to only reacting after an action has been taken," he said.

In response, Trump said that in the event of an attack on US bases, the US would respond harshly:

"We will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before."

How protests in Iran began

At the end of December 2025, mass anti-government protests broke out in Iran, which later escalated into violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

The first demonstrations took place on December 28 in Tehran. The cause was a sharp drop in the national currency, which hit businesses hard — that is why traders from the capital's central market took to the streets.

According to local media reports, mobile phone, electronics, and household appliance sellers, whose businesses depend on imports and foreign currency payments while their income is in the devalued local currency, took an active part in the protests.

Later, students and representatives of other social groups, including those who were previously considered supporters of the government, joined the protests, which came as a surprise to the country's leadership.

In response, the authorities resorted to forceful methods, including the use of firearms, special equipment, physical violence, and mass arrests of protesters.

In addition, Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi called on citizens to intensify street protests and launch nationwide strikes, stressing that such actions could paralyze the regime and lead to its downfall.

According to the latest data, over 500 people have been killed in Iran as a result of the protests, and more than 10,600 people have been arrested.