Trump: "Closely Monitoring Iran Protests... Reviewing Strong Options"

"We Will Block ExxonMobil's Entry into Venezuela"
Sudden Shift to "In Talks" with Cuba After Warning Message

President Donald Trump of the United States stated that he is closely monitoring the protests in Iran and is considering various response options.

On the 11th (local time), President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while returning to Washington, D.C. from his Mar-a-Lago residence, "We are looking at this issue very seriously. The military option is also under consideration, and we are reviewing several strong options," adding, "We will make a decision."

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

President Trump further commented, "It seems that people who should not have died have been killed," emphasizing, "We are examining this matter very seriously."

As protests against Iran's economic crisis continued for the 15th consecutive day, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that 538 people had died, including 490 civilians and 48 military and police personnel. Iran Human Rights (IHR), a Norway-based organization, estimated the death toll at 192 as of this day, while some sources suggested that the number of deaths could exceed 2,000.

Previously, The New York Times and CNN reported, citing sources, that President Trump had been briefed on plans for potential U.S. intervention in Iran.

President Trump also mentioned that he could discuss ways to allow Iranians to access Starlink, the satellite internet network operated by SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla.

When asked how the U.S. would respond if Iran attacked a U.S. military base, he warned, "We would strike them at a level they have never experienced before."

Regarding Venezuela, President Trump said he was willing to meet with interim President Delcy Rodriguez, although he did not specify a concrete schedule.

President Trump stated, "We are cooperating well with the Venezuelan leadership and will see how everything unfolds," adding that Interim President Rodriguez had offered to provide the United States with 50 million barrels of oil, which is currently being shipped to the U.S.

When asked whether any oil companies had pledged to support the reconstruction of Venezuela's oil industry, he replied, "I was not pleased with ExxonMobil's response," and stated, "We are leaning toward blocking Exxon’s entry."

Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, remarked at a meeting of oil industry executives at the White House on the 9th that "Given Venezuela's current legal and commercial framework, it is impossible to invest," which President Trump was referring to in his comments.

Regarding Cuba, to which he had previously sent strong warning messages, President Trump suddenly stated, "We are in talks with Cuba, and you will find out soon."

President Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that Cuba would "soon collapse," wrote on the social networking service Truth Social on this day, "There will be no more oil or money going from Venezuela to Cuba. Zero," and strongly advised, "I urge them to reach an agreement before it is too late." In response, Cuban President Miguel D?az-Canel fired back on X (formerly Twitter), calling them "patients who are hysterically hurling accusations at our country today," escalating the war of words.

Meanwhile, when asked whether there were plans to seize oil tankers headed to Cuba, President Trump avoided giving a direct answer.