"Trump Briefed on Iran Military Strike Options"... Possibility of Intervention Becomes More Concrete

It has been reported that President Donald Trump of the United States is considering military action against Iran, holding the country responsible for the bloodshed that occurred during anti-government protests.

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Photo by Yonhap News

The New York Times (NYT) reported on January 10 (local time), citing multiple officials, that President Trump has been briefed in recent days on several new military strike options against Iran.

These officials stated that President Trump has not yet made a final decision, but revealed that he is seriously considering approving strikes in response to the Iranian regime's suppression of protests.

On the same day, President Trump posted on Truth Social, saying, "Iran is probably closer to freedom than ever before," and added, "The United States is ready to help."

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also reported on the same day, citing officials, that the U.S. government has been holding preliminary discussions on attack options against Iran in preparation for the possibility that President Trump’s threats might need to be carried out in action.

A senior U.S. military official told the NYT that commanders in the region would need more time to strengthen their positions and prepare defensive postures against possible retaliatory attacks from Iran.

The Trump administration also used military force against Iran in June of last year when armed conflict between Israel and Iran escalated. At that time, after repeatedly pressuring Iran verbally, President Trump ordered simultaneous surprise strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), based in the United States, announced that as of January 9, a total of 65 people had died, including 50 anti-government protesters in Iran.