Trump Briefed on Military Strike Options Against Iran Amid Deadly Protest Crackdown

President Trump was briefed on military strike options against Iran as protests against the regime entered their third week with over 500 demonstrators killed by security forces. Trump threatened to intervene, warning he would hit Iran "very, very hard, where it hurts" if the killing continued. In response, Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned that all U.S. military bases in the region and Israel would be considered "legitimate targets" if the U.S. attacked. Administration officials were considering a range of options including military strikes, cyber operations, expanded sanctions, and support for protesters, though some officials worried kinetic action could undercut the protest movement.

"very, very hard, where it hurts" — Trump's public warning to Iran regarding the ongoing crackdown on protesters, threatening military intervention if the killing of demonstrators continued