WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is facing a sensitive decision as he considers whether to authorize a U.S. military response against Iran, where authorities continue a forceful crackdown on nationwide protests that has reportedly resulted in more than 600 deaths and the detention of thousands.
Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran that the use of lethal force against anti-government demonstrators would cross a “red line” and could trigger U.S. military action. He has recently indicated that Iran may be approaching that threshold, prompting him and his national security team to examine what he described as “very strong options.”
Despite earlier statements that U.S. forces were “locked and loaded,” the American military appears to be on standby for now. Trump is reassessing his next steps as he claims Iranian officials have sent private signals expressing interest in talks with the White House.
“What you hear publicly from the Iranian regime is very different from the messages we’re receiving privately,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday. “The president wants to explore those messages. That said, he has shown he is not afraid to use military options if he believes they are necessary — and Iran knows that.”
Hours later, Trump announced on social media that the United States would impose 25% tariffs on countries doing business with Iran, effective immediately. This marked his first concrete punitive step against Tehran in response to the protest crackdown and reflected his continued use of tariffs as a tool to exert pressure on both allies and adversaries.
The White House has released few details about Iran’s outreach, but Leavitt confirmed that Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will play a central role in engaging with Iranian officials.
At the same time, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and senior National Security Council officials began meetings on Friday to assemble a “suite of options” for the president. According to a U.S. official familiar with the discussions, these options range from diplomatic initiatives to potential military strikes. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the deliberations.
Speaking to reporters Sunday evening, Trump said that “a meeting is being set up” with Iranian representatives, while cautioning that “we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting.”
“We’re watching the situation very carefully,” the president added.
Source: Associated Press (AP)