US asks Europe for intelligence on targets inside Iran — WP

According to sources among European officials, on January 12, representatives of the Trump administration asked their countries to share intelligence on possible targets in Iran.

One European official notes that Washington is unlikely to strike nuclear facilities, but may take action against the leaders of organizations responsible for violence during protests in Iran.

At the same time, according to Politico sources, the US's ability to exert forceful influence on Iran is significantly limited.

As the agency notes, US military ships and personnel that were once at the disposal of the US administration in the Middle East have been transferred to the Caribbean.

"The president can still order airstrikes that target Iranian leadership or military installations. But his choices are even more reduced than June, when the U.S. took out Iran’s nuclear sites," Politico writes.

In addition, the agency notes that the Trump administration will have to coordinate plans for the possible use of force with Congress, which also limits its options.

Protests in Iran and Trump's threats

Since late December 2025, Iran has been rocked by mass protests, which have grown to a serious scale and have already escalated into armed clashes.

It all started with traders from Tehran's central city market, who took to the streets on December 28 to protest the sharp fall in the national currency.

According to local media reports, mobile phone, electronics, and household appliance sellers, who buy their goods in foreign currency and sell them in local currency, were the most active participants in the protests.

Students and other segments of the population joined the rallies, as well as, somewhat unexpectedly, those who had once been supporters of the regime.

The Iranian regime responded with maximum brutality—shooting, special forces, beatings, and mass arrests.

According to human rights activists, there may already be 12,000 deaths in Iran as a result of the large-scale anti-government protests, which have been going on for 16 days. Previous figures were significantly lower, with the regime concealing any evidence of this crime.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has publicly called on Iranians to continue anti-government protests, seize institutions, and said that aid to protesters is on the way.

After the first reports of casualties, Trump said that Iran was beginning to cross his red line.

According to Axios, Trump is considering strikes against Iran to punish the Ayatollah regime for the killings. But other media outlets report that in reality, there are no military decisions, and the White House has not yet decided what to do.