Protests convulsing Iran have thrust President Donald Trump into a high-wire act of foreign policy. With Tehran deploying force against demonstrators protesting economic misery, American intelligence has laid out potential strike scenarios for the president, who sources say is mulling retaliation.
What began as anger over food price surges—owing to the rial’s freefall—has swelled into nationwide defiance against Supreme Leader Khamenei’s rule. By Thursday, authorities plunged the country into digital darkness, cutting internet and phones for more than two days to stifle coordination.
US media, drawing from officials, report Trump received options for limited attacks, focusing on non-military assets. His administration has championed the unrest, with Trump tweeting on Truth Social about Iran’s freedom struggle and US readiness to aid.
Iran counters with defiance. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of riot-mongering on social media. More alarmingly, Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened strikes on US military, maritime targets, and ‘occupied areas’—signaling peril for Israel too—if America acts.
This echoes Trump’s pattern: stern warnings, sanctions, and occasional saber-rattling. Previous threats tied military response to protester safety. Now, as violence mounts, the briefings suggest a threshold may be crossed.
Global markets jitter at the prospect, with oil prices volatile. Iran’s woes—unemployment, corruption, isolation—fuel the fire, but a US strike risks igniting a wider conflagration. Observers urge restraint, yet Trump’s unpredictable style keeps all options on the table. The coming days could redefine US-Iran hostilities.