The president on Tuesday consulted with his national security team about next steps after telling reporters he believed the killing in Iran was “significant.”
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and key White House National Security Council officials began meeting last Friday to develop options for Trump, ranging from a diplomatic approach to military strikes.
The Iranian security force crackdown on the demonstrations has killed at least 2,586, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported.
On Wednesday, Iranian officials signalled that suspects detained in nationwide protests would face fast trials and executions while the Islamic Republic promised a “decisive response” if the US or Israel intervene in the domestic unrest.
The threats emerged as some personnel at a key US military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate by Wednesday evening following Trump’s escalated warnings of potential military action over the killing of peaceful demonstrators.
Mohammad Pakpour, commander of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, reiterated Iranian claims, without providing evidence, that the US and Israel have instigated the protests and that they are the real killers of protesters and security forces who have died in the turmoil, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
He added that those countries will “receive the response in the appropriate time.”
