U.S. President Donald Trump is set to be briefed this week by top aides on possible responses to Iran’s ongoing protest crisis, as the Islamic Republic’s security forces intensify a violent crackdown and Tehran issues warnings against U.S. intervention.
According to The Wall Street Journal and other outlets, Trump will meet with senior officials — including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine — on Tuesday to review a range of options. These could include new sanctions, cyber operations, and potentially limited military responses, though no final decisions are expected at this stage.
The briefing comes as nationwide protests across Iran — triggered by economic hardship and widespread discontent — have entered their second week, with rights groups reporting more than 500 deaths and over 10,600 arrests amid a harsh government response.
Trump has publicly expressed strong support for demonstrators and warned Tehran against brutality. But Iranian leaders have responded with defiance, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf declaring that U.S. military bases and Israeli targets would be “legitimate targets” if the United States launches military action.
Experts say the administration is weighing non‑kinetic measures such as cyberattacks and expanded sanctions alongside any kinetic options, and officials caution that military strikes could risk unifying Iranian public opinion behind the regime or provoking broader retaliation.
For now, the focus remains on internal deliberations within the U.S. government and assessing how best to balance support for protesters with the risk of escalating a dangerous regional confrontation.
