WASHINGTON
President Donald Trump faces a critical decision on whether to order military action against Iran, as the regime’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests has left more than 600 dead and thousands arrested.
Trump has repeatedly threatened Tehran with force if it used deadly measures against protesters—a red line he has said Iran is “starting to cross.”
He and his national security team are now weighing what he calls “very strong options.”
Yet for now, the U.S. military—which Trump previously warned was “locked and loaded”—appears to be on standby. The shift follows what the White House describes as conflicting signals from Tehran, including private messages indicating a desire for talks.
“What you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately, and I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday.
“However … the president has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary, and nobody knows that better than Iran.”
