Trump weighing options to back Iran protests - Axios
US President Donald Trump is considering several options to support protests in Iran and increase pressure on the country’s leadership, two senior US officials told Axios on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump is considering several options to support protests in Iran and increase pressure on the country’s leadership, two senior US officials told Axios on Sunday.
"After Thursday the Iranian regime was significantly concerned and conducted a serious reassessment of the situation," an Israeli defense official with knowledge of the intelligence on Iran was quoted as saying in the report.
While US military strikes on Iranian targets are among the options under discussion, many within the Trump administration believe major kinetic action at this stage would undercut the protest movement, according to a US official.
Other options include measures aimed at deterring Tehran, such as announcing that a US aircraft carrier strike group is heading to the region.
The official said the administration is also considering cyberattacks and information operations targeting the Iranian government.
Israeli and US officials also told Axios they believe the true death toll is likely several times higher than the 116 reported on Saturday by the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
