Trump says US considering 'very strong options' for Iran, says Tehran called to negotiate

Washington (Web Desk/Agencies): US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that Washington is  seriously considering military action against Iran amid escalating nationwide protests against the government.

“They’re starting to, it looks like,” Trump said aboard Air Force One when asked if Iran had crossed the line he previously set regarding the killing of demonstrators.

“We are looking at this very seriously. The military is reviewing options, and we are considering some very strong steps. A decision will be made,” he added.

Trump also disclosed that Iranian officials had reached out to explore negotiations following his warnings of possible strikes. “The leaders of Iran called yesterday,” he said. “A meeting is being arranged… They want to negotiate.”

At the same time, he cautioned that “we may have to act before that meeting happens.”

According to a US official, Trump is scheduled to meet with top advisers on Tuesday to discuss the range of options concerning Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported that these options could include targeted military strikes, cyber operations, broader sanctions, and digital assistance to anti-government groups.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf responded by warning the US against misjudgments. “Let us be clear: in the event of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (Israel) as well as all US bases and ships will be legitimate targets,” said Qalibaf, who previously served as a commander in the Revolutionary Guards.

Domestically, the Iranian government declared three days of mourning for those it described as “martyrs,” including members of the security forces killed during two weeks of protests, state media reported.

The authorities characterized the unrest as an “Iranian national resistance battle against America and the Zionist regime,” using the official term for Israel, which Iran does not recognize

President Masoud Pezeshkian called on citizens to participate in a “national resistance march” on Monday, encouraging rallies nationwide against what the government labeled as violence committed by “urban terrorist criminals,” according to state television.

Despite an internet blackout lasting over 72 hours, protests have continued to grow, with monitors such as NetBlocks warning that the shutdown is limiting information flow and could mask the true scale of casualties.

Rights organization HRANA reported on Sunday that the unrest has resulted in more than 500 deaths, including 490 protesters and 48 security personnel, and that over 10,600 people have been detained in just two weeks.