President Donald Trump warned on Sunday that the U.S. military is “looking at some very strong options” with regard to Iran after reports have indicated that the Iranian government is killing hundreds of protesters across the Middle Eastern nation.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, over 544 people have been killed and over 10,681 people have been arrested as part of the Iranian government’s crackdown on the massive protests that have erupted across the country. The Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that there have been protests at 585 locations in 186 different cities in Iran challenging Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s current regime.
During a press gaggle on Air Force One on Sunday, the president was asked whether Iran was crossing his “red line” by cracking down on the protests. In response, Trump said, “They’re starting to, it looks like.”
“There seemed to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed,” Trump added. “But we’re looking at it very seriously. The military’s looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination.”
According to The Hill, Trump told reporters on Sunday that he was receiving an “hourly briefing” regarding the situation with Iran amid the nationwide protests against the regime.
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During Sunday’s press gaggle, the president also confirmed that Iran’s leaders had called him on Saturday to “negotiate” with his administration. He claimed that Iran’s leaders are “tired of being beat up by the United States.”
“Iran wants to negotiate, yes. We may meet with them, I mean, a meeting is being set up,” Trump said. “But we may have to act, because of what’s happening, before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called; they want to negotiate.”
Trump previously warned Iran that the U.S. military could intervene if the government decided to kill peaceful protesters in the country. Earlier this month, Trump said, “If Iran [shoots] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
