Trump considers options as Iran cracks down on protests
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A scene from the protests in Iran on Friday. Photo: MAHSA/Middle East Images / AFP via Getty
President Trump is considering several options for supporting the protests in Iran and weakening the regime, two U.S. officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: Those discussions are taking place as the protests intensify and the death toll rises, and after Trump said publicly that he was willing to use military force if the Iranian regime killed protesters.
- "All options are on the table for President Trump but no decision has been made," a U.S. official said.
- A second U.S. official said the discussions had included military strikes but most of the options presented to the president at this stage are "not kinetic."
- The officials acknowledged it's hard to predict which option Trump will choose.
Driving the news: There were massive protests across Iran on Saturday for the third consecutive night, with the country still under an internet blackout and the security forces intensifying the crackdown, according to reports from Tehran and U.S. and Israeli officials.
- An Israeli defense official said hundreds of thousands of Iranians had demonstrated in the last few days.
- Israeli and U.S. officials told Axios the true death toll is likely several times higher than the 116 reported on Saturday by human rights group HRANA.
- Iranian opposition TV channel "Iran international" reported on Saturday night that 2,000 protesters had been killed over the last 48 hours and the Israeli official claimed the total death toll was more than 1,000. Other estimates are lower. A U.S. official simply said the death toll was "high." None of the numbers have been confirmed.
What they're saying: Trump suggested on Saturday the U.S. could intervene on the side of the protesters, writing: "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!"
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the protests in a call on Saturday, according to three U.S. sources.
- A U.S. official claimed the call was "routine" and also dealt with Gaza and Syria.
The other side: Iran has blamed Trump for fueling the protests and accused the U.S. and Israel of importing "rioters."
- President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on Sunday that if the U.S. attacks, Iran will hit U.S. bases and Israel in response.
- Pezeshkian also said Iran was determined to address the economic turmoil that sparked the protests.
Behind the scenes: In recent days, initial meetings have taken place inside the administration to discuss ways to support the protests.
- While U.S. military strikes against Iranian regime targets are among the options being discussed, many inside the Trump administration think major kinetic action at this stage would undermine the protests, two U.S. officials said.
- Other options include steps to deter the regime, like announcing an aircraft carrier strike group is heading to the region.
- The officials said cyberattacks and information operations against the Iranian regime are also being considered.
The intrigue: Two senior Israeli officials said the Iranian regime and its security services appeared surprised by the how much the protest had grown since Thursday.
- "After Thursday the Iranian regime was significantly concerned and conducted a serious reassessment of the situation," an Israeli defense official with knowledge of the intelligence on Iran said.
- A U.S. official and a senior Israeli official both said there are some signs of dissent within the Iranian security forces, but it' unclear how widespread it is.
- None of the officials said the regime appeared in danger of imminent collapse.
