ISLAMABAD: President Donald Trump is keeping the option of military strikes against Iran “on the table” as his administration weighs how to respond to a severe crackdown on nationwide protests, the White House said Monday.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters outside the West Wing that air strikes would be among “the many, many options” available to the commander-in-chief in addressing the unrest and the reported killing of demonstrators on Iran’s streets. But she stressed that diplomacy remains Trump’s preferred first course of action.
Leavitt indicated that messages being received privately from Iranian officials differ from the regime’s public stance, and the administration wants to explore those back-channel communications before making a final decision. “Diplomacy is always the first option for the president,” she said.
The comments come amid mounting international furor over protests in Tehran. While there is no official confirmation of the number of people killed, the estimate provided by Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) suggests that at least 648 protesters in Iran have been killed.
Although Trump and senior US officials have not ordered military action, the administration has been discussing a wide range of responses, including further sanctions and other pressure tactics, alongside possible cyber operations or assistance to opposition forces. Military strikes remain one of several options under consideration should diplomatic efforts fail or conditions worsen.
According to media reports, Trump will consult with senior national security advisers on how best to balance diplomatic channels with the potential for stronger action, underscoring the fragile and uncertain moment in US-Iran relations.
Trump slaps tariffs on Iran's trade partners
The move comes hours after Trump announced a 25% tariff on any country doing business with Iran, increasing pressure even as a human rights group released casualty estimates of protesters.
There is no official confirmation of the number of people killed. The estimate provided by Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) suggests that at least 648 protesters in Iran had been killed, including nine people under the age of 18.
Trump, who has repeatedly threatened Iran with military intervention, said in a social media post on Monday that the new levies would "immediately" hit the Islamic Republic's trading partners who also do business with the United States.
"This Order is final and conclusive," he wrote, without specifying who they will affect.
Iran's main trading partners are China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq, according to the economic database Trading Economics.
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