US President Donald Trump is increasingly inclined toward taking decisive action against Iran as the regime intensifies a violent crackdown on protesters, according to officials familiar with internal deliberations. The president, who has drawn a firm red line of his own making, believes he may be compelled to act in response to the escalating unrest and reported loss of life.
Senior officials from the Trump administration met on Tuesday to further fine-tune a range of options under consideration. Trump joined the more than two-hour-long meeting after returning to Washington from Michigan, where he was briefed on the latest casualty figures from Iran and US assessments of how the crackdown could unfold, including the possibility of executions. Officials also presented video footage from inside Iran during the briefing, sources said.
In recent days, divisions have emerged within the president’s national security team over whether to proceed with a kinetic military strike. Officials emphasized that any potential action would not involve deploying ground troops, underscoring the administration’s intent to avoid prolonged military engagement in Iran.
One option being examined is a targeted strike on facilities linked to Iran’s security apparatus, which has been accused of spearheading the violent suppression of protests. As discussions continue, officials are carefully evaluating the risks associated with each course of action, including the possibility of a failed air operation or a disproportionate response from Tehran. There is also concern about avoiding widespread regional instability in the event of a collapse of Iran’s ruling regime.
According to officials, Trump has repeatedly warned of military consequences if Iran continues to use deadly force against demonstrators and now feels compelled to act to uphold that stance. He has privately reflected on past US leaders whom he believes failed to enforce red lines, including former President Barack Obama’s decision not to strike Syria following the use of chemical weapons in 2013.
“Part of it is that he has now set a red line, and he feels he needs to do something,” a source familiar with the discussions said, adding that some form of action is increasingly likely. The central question, the source noted, is what shape that action will ultimately take.
A critical factor in the administration’s calculations remains the risk of retaliation, with Iran warning that it would target US assets across the Middle East if attacked.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
