Trump weighs response as Iran intensifies crackdown on protests

President Trump is weighing multiple options to support growing anti-government protests in Iran and increase pressure on the country’s leadership, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to Axios.

The deliberations come as demonstrations spread across Iran for a third consecutive night, security forces escalate their crackdown, and reports of rising casualties emerge amid a near-total internet blackout.

A U.S. official said “all options are on the table,” though no final decision has been made. While military strikes have been discussed, most proposals currently under review are non-kinetic, another official said, adding that it remains difficult to predict which course Trump may ultimately choose.

Protests escalate, death toll disputed

Large-scale protests erupted across Iran on Saturday, with Israeli and U.S. officials estimating that hundreds of thousands of people have participated in recent days. Human rights group HRANA reported at least 116 deaths by Saturday, but U.S. and Israeli officials believe the actual toll could be significantly higher.

Iran International, an opposition-aligned television channel, claimed that up to 2,000 protesters were killed over a 48-hour period, while an Israeli defense official estimated the number exceeded 1,000. Other assessments are lower, and none of the figures have been independently verified. A U.S. official described the death toll as “high.”

U.S. signals possible intervention

Trump publicly suggested on Saturday that the United States could intervene in support of protesters, writing on social media: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also discussed the situation in Iran during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to U.S. sources. One U.S. official characterized the call as routine, noting that Gaza and Syria were also discussed.

Iran warns of retaliation

Iranian leaders have accused the United States and Israel of stoking unrest. President Masoud Pezeshkian warned Sunday that any U.S. military action would trigger retaliation against U.S. bases and Israel. He also said the government was committed to addressing the economic pressures that helped ignite the protests.

Behind the scenes: options under review

Initial interagency meetings have taken place in Washington to explore ways to support protesters without undermining the movement itself. Some officials argue that direct military strikes at this stage could weaken the protests by allowing Tehran to shift focus to foreign intervention.

Other options reportedly under consideration include deploying additional U.S. military assets to the region as a deterrent, launching cyber operations, and expanding information campaigns targeting the Iranian regime.

Signs of strain inside Iran

Israeli intelligence officials say Iran’s leadership appeared caught off guard by the scale and speed of the unrest.

“After Thursday, the Iranian regime conducted a serious reassessment of the situation,” an Israeli defense official said.

U.S. and Israeli officials have also observed limited signs of dissent within Iran’s security forces, though both cautioned that it remains unclear how widespread such divisions may be. None of the officials said the regime appears close to imminent collapse.