Overview
- President Donald Trump said he is considering "very strong options" in response to Iran's crackdown but has not decided on military action, reiterating that any response would not involve U.S. ground troops.
- Options presented include targeted strikes on Iran’s security forces and non-kinetic measures such as cyber operations, new sanctions, information efforts and expanding satellite internet access like Starlink.
- Senior U.S. commanders have advised delaying any strikes to allow time to consolidate forces and bolster defenses against potential Iranian retaliation.
- Iran’s parliament speaker warned that U.S. military centers, bases, ships and Israel would be treated as legitimate targets, raising the possibility of preemptive action if Washington moves toward an attack.
- Activist networks report 500-plus deaths and more than 10,000 arrests across all 31 provinces, with a near-total internet shutdown hindering independent verification as protests continue into a third week.