In a significant escalation of rhetoric, former US President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that American military forces are actively examining "very strong options" for a potential strike against Iran. This statement comes against the backdrop of a brutal government crackdown on nationwide anti-regime protests that have now entered their third week.
Trump's Red Line and Iran's Defiant Response
Speaking to journalists while aboard Air Force One, Trump implied that the Iranian regime may have crossed a critical threshold he had previously established concerning the killing of its own citizens. "They're starting to, it looks like," he remarked when questioned if that line had been breached.
"We're looking at it very seriously. The military is looking at it, and we're looking at some very strong options. We'll make a determination," the former President added, signalling a potential shift towards a more aggressive US posture.
Iran responded with a stark and immediate warning. The country's parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, stated that if Washington launches any attack, American military installations across the region and Israel would be considered "legitimate targets." This threat was delivered as lawmakers chanted "Death to America!" in a charged parliamentary session.
Protests Intensify Amid Severe Crackdown
The political standoff unfolds as demonstrations continue to sweep Iran, described by observers as more intense and widespread than the 2022 hijab protests. Protesters once again flooded the streets of Tehran and Mashhad, the nation's two largest cities, facing escalating violence from security forces.
Human rights groups monitoring the situation report a grim and rising death toll. At least 538 people have been killed since the unrest began, with around 192 fatalities reported just by Sunday morning. The true number is feared to be higher due to a severe, ongoing internet blackout imposed by authorities.
Qalibaf vowed a harsh government response to the internal dissent, declaring, "The people of Iran should know that we will deal with them in the most severe way and punish those who are arrested." Senior officials have adopted an increasingly hardline stance, with some suggesting protesters should face the death penalty and others likening them to terrorists.
A Region on Edge
The Iranian speaker's warning extended beyond a promise of retaliation, hinting at the possibility of preemptive action. He specifically referred to Israel as "the occupied territory" and issued a direct caution to US forces.
"In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centers, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets," Qalibaf asserted. "We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat."
This exchange marks one of the most direct confrontations in recent memory, raising the spectre of a broader regional conflict. The situation remains highly volatile, with the world watching closely as internal unrest in Iran collides with escalating international threats.
