President Donald Trump has warned that the United States may launch another military strike against Iran if the authorities continue their violent crackdown on nationwide protests. US media reports say the president has already been briefed on a range of military options, though no final decision has yet been made.
According to The New York Times, possible measures include limited air strikes targeting Iranian government security forces linked to the killings of protesters, and potentially non-military sites in Tehran. Mr Trump has said any response would be severe but would not involve ground troops.
The protests began in late December amid deep economic hardship and have since grown into a broad challenge to the Islamic Republic. Iranian authorities have imposed an internet shutdown and are reported to have killed hundreds, if not thousands, of demonstrators. Iranian leaders deny wrongdoing and describe the unrest as foreign-backed vandalism.
Tehran has warned it would retaliate against any US attack by striking American bases and naval vessels in the region. US officials are said to be concerned that even a limited strike could trigger wider escalation and endanger US personnel across the Middle East.
A potential new attack would follow US air strikes in June 2025, when American B-2 bombers hit Iran’s nuclear facilities at the end of a brief but intense war between Israel and Iran. Iran responded at the time with a missile strike on a US airbase in Qatar, after which both sides stepped back.
There is no indication that Mr Trump is currently considering targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though officials say all options remain under review if the violence intensifies. Analysts say a short-term air campaign could punish Iranian authorities but is unlikely on its own to shift the balance in Iran’s internal struggle.
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