President Donald Trump delivered a no-holds-barred message to Iran on Sunday, vowing ‘very tough’ steps if the regime’s crackdown on protesters continues unchecked. From aboard Air Force One heading back to Washington from Florida, he voiced alarm over apparent civilian killings in the fray.
Intelligence suggests common folk are dying in the turmoil, spurring a detailed US military assessment. Trump remarked that the optics indicate wrongful deaths, slamming those in charge for governing via force over fair rule.
Affirming military scrutiny, he said, ‘It’s serious business. Troops are on it, weighing heavy-duty responses. Decision time is coming.’ He stonewalled on invasion specifics or breached thresholds, preserving operational secrecy.
Hourly intel feeds are shaping policy, per Trump. Protest losses stem partly from panic in huge throngs, plus direct hits from shots fired, he explained.
Retaliation from Iran? Expect a US counter unlike any before, he menaced, invoking a track record of vanquishing foes. Iran must heed America’s proven warnings, he added.
Silent on partner nations’ input or deadlines, Trump kept cards close. Iran’s streets have simmered with anti-government fury for weeks, swelling into widespread revolts.
This bellicose tone from the Oval Office hints at brewing storm clouds over the Middle East, where Trump’s America First doctrine meets Iranian defiance head-on.