Trump is considering how to intervene in Iran

WashingtonMore than half a year after bombing Iranian nuclear facilitiesUS President Donald Trump again threatened the ayatollahs' regime with "strong" military action in response to the repression of the country's protests. The warning, issued Sunday night aboard Air Force One, was also accompanied by the claim that "Iran has called" and "want to negotiate." The Republican also asserted that "a meeting is being prepared," although he did not rule out the possibility of intervening before the encounter. "Perhaps we will have to act before a meeting," he stated. He added, "They are asking me what to do, where to attack, when, and from what angle." Statements in true Trump style, obsessed with disrupting the world order in the first days of 2026.

The day after raising the possibility of a US military attack, an administration official explained to Wall Street Journal The White House was reportedly considering a last-minute Iranian offer to diplomatically address the limitations on its nuclear program. In June, Washington bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in an attempt to halt the program's development. Now, amid massive protests threatening to topple the regime and with Trump poised to take actions that could lead to its defeat, Tehran appears to be playing the nuclear program card. All of this is aimed at containing Washington's response and buying time. According to the WSJ Some senior administration advisors, led by Vice President JD Vance, are urging Trump to explore diplomatic options before punishing Iran for the deaths of protesters. According to several NGOs, the death toll since the start of the protests ranges from 500 to 1,000. Trump had left the door open to negotiations because he believes Iran "takes its threats seriously," given past events. The president cited the fates of Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qasem Soleimani and Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, both killed in US airstrikes during his first term. It remains to be seen how the Republican will receive the offer to curb Iran's nuclear program, given that on Sunday he asserted that "the Iranian nuclear threat has diminished." All eyes are on the US president and the potential actions, military or otherwise, that Iran may be considering depending on how the protests and negotiations unfold. According to several US media outlets, Trump will meet with his cabinet on Tuesday to discuss possible actions, including a wide range of options from cyberattacks and sanctions to bombings. Trump has also indicated that he plans to call tycoon Elon Musk to discuss the deployment of satellites from his company Starlink. In Iran, the goal is to keep the internet running, despite the blackout imposed by the Iranian regime to silence protesters. The administration also seems to prefer concrete actions to avoid massively impacting citizens who are demonstrating against the regime.

Boots on the ground

Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, said in a Fox interview that he hopes the president will take "actions, not an invasion," that will "change the game" to empower the protesters and deter Iran's leaders.

The military intervention in Venezuela set a precedent because it did involve putting American boots on the ground.This had not been the case with the bombings in Iran, which now raises fears that if the White House opts for military action, it could be more aggressive. According to the French news agency AFP, France has already evacuated all non-essential staff from its embassy in Iran.

The president said Sunday night that the Iranian government was "starting" to cross a red line, as "people have died who shouldn't have died," which he attributed to a regime of "violence." "Some of the protesters died in a stampede because there were so many people. And some were shot," he said.

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqxi, said Monday that the country is prepared for war but is also willing to negotiate. "We are not seeking war, but we are prepared for war, even more prepared than before," he declared at a conference with foreign ambassadors in Tehran, broadcast on state television. He was referring to the 12-day war with Israel last June, in which the United States joined in to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities.

The demonstrations that began on December 28th due to the economic crisis and have spread throughout the country challenge the regime and demand its fall, and despite the repression by the authorities, they remain alive in the streets.