Trump briefed on new options for military strikes in Iran

17GEN4.com

Washington — President Donald Trump has been briefed in recent days on a range of new military options for potential strikes against Iran, according to multiple U.S. officials familiar with the matter, as the administration weighs a possible response to the Islamic Republic's intensifying crackdown on widespread anti-government protests.

The briefings, first reported by The New York Times on January 10, come amid escalating unrest in Iran that began in late December over severe economic grievances, including a currency crisis, and has since ballooned into calls for fundamental changes to the country's authoritarian clerical rule. Human rights groups estimate that hundreds have been killed and thousands arrested in the regime's response, with reports of lethal force, mass detentions, and a near-total internet blackout hampering independent verification.

President Trump has repeatedly signaled a hard line, warning Iranian leaders against further violence toward demonstrators. In public statements and social media posts over the weekend, he declared that "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before" and affirmed that the United States "stands ready to help!!!" Earlier, he told reporters that if the regime began "killing people like they have in the past," the U.S. would "hit them very hard where it hurts," emphasizing that any action would not involve boots on the ground but could be severe.

According to officials speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive deliberations, Trump has not yet made a final decision on military action. However, they described him as seriously considering authorizing strikes in response to the suppression of the protests. Among the options presented are targeted strikes on nonmilitary sites in Tehran linked to the regime's internal security apparatus, as well as other measures such as cyber operations, additional sanctions, and support for anti-government communications — including the provision of Starlink terminals to circumvent internet restrictions.

A senior U.S. official confirmed to CBS News on January 11 that the president had been briefed on these new military strike options, while CNN reported that Trump is weighing a broader set of intervention plans amid concerns that direct strikes could backfire by rallying Iranian public support around the government or provoking retaliation.

Iranian officials have responded defiantly. Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned that U.S. military bases and Israel would be "legitimate targets" in the event of any American strike. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused protesters of being influenced by foreign powers and vowed that the government would not back down.

The developments unfold against the backdrop of heightened U.S.-Iran tensions, including last summer's joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. No major U.S. troop movements have been reported in the region, and officials stressed that planning remains in the contingency phase, with further discussions — including a key briefing expected Tuesday — set to explore non-kinetic options like cyber tools and expanded sanctions.

Critics, including Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, have cautioned that U.S. military intervention could prove counterproductive, potentially strengthening the regime by framing the protests as foreign interference. As the situation in Iran remains fluid and volatile, the White House has referred questions to the president's public statements, leaving open the question of whether Washington's rhetoric will translate into action. 17GEN4.com