Overview
- President Trump will convene a Jan. 13 meeting where Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Kain are expected to brief response options.
- The White House confirmed that an Iranian official privately reached Trump’s special representative Stephen Witkoff, echoing Axios reporting on contacts involving Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
- Planning under consideration includes potential cyberattacks, additional sanctions and possible deployment of Starlink terminals to help protesters maintain connectivity, according to multiple reports.
- Press secretary Caroline Levitt said all options remain on the table, including air strikes, while emphasizing that diplomacy is the president’s preferred course.
- Iranian leaders escalated warnings, with Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatening an “unforgettable lesson” if attacked and Araghchi alleging the U.S. and Israel are exploiting the unrest, as an internet blackout and uncertain casualty figures persist.