While no final decision has been taken, US officials say Trump is considering targeted action against Iranian security infrastructure if violence against protesters intensifies.
US President Donald Trump is weighing possible military action against Iran as nationwide protests deepen and Tehran’s violent crackdown draws global scrutiny, multiple U.S. officials told the New York Times. The briefings, held in recent days, presented Trump with a range of options that could include limited strikes on Iranian security-linked targets if the regime escalates its repression of demonstrators.
While Trump has not made a final decision, officials said he is seriously considering authorising targeted airstrikes — potentially against sites in Tehran — as a response to what Washington describes as an “unacceptable” crackdown on protesters. Such military action, they noted, would be calibrated to punish Tehran without committing ground troops.
The unrest in Iran, triggered on December 28 by a currency crisis and rising living costs, has since spread nationwide despite a near-total internet blackout, with rights groups reporting mounting fatalities and thousands of detentions.
More Information from the NYT:
— Trump has been presented with a range of options, including strikes on nonmilitary sites in Tehran
— Some options are tied directly to elements of Iran’s security services
— CENTCOM commanders would want more time before any attack pic.twitter.com/doNo2nFV0Q
— Faytuks News (@Faytuks) January 11, 2026
Trump has issued repeated warnings to Iran’s leadership, saying the U.S. would intervene “very hard where it hurts” if the regime uses lethal force against civilians — comments officials say underpin his consideration of military options. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other U.S. leaders have also publicly expressed support for Iranian protesters.
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Iran has sharply criticised U.S. threats. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that in the event of an American attack, “U.S. military and shipping centres” in the region would be considered legitimate targets, underscoring the risk of wider escalation.
As Iran’s streets remain volatile and chants for change echo in Tehran and other cities, the White House has signalled that any decision on military action will hinge on how far Tehran’s leadership goes in suppressing the unrest.
