Trump keeps military options open
The United States warned Iran on Thursday that military intervention remains a possibility if the government continues using lethal force against protesters. During an emergency UN Security Council session, US Ambassador Mike Waltz emphasized that President Donald Trump is ready to act decisively to stop the violence. Waltz stressed that Trump favors action over prolonged diplomacy and that “all options are on the table” to end what Washington describes as the mass killing of civilians.
Iran pushes back at the UN
Iran strongly rejected the US warnings, with Deputy Ambassador Hossein Darzi accusing Washington of meddling in the country’s internal affairs. Darzi claimed the US is using human rights as a pretext to justify political destabilization and potential military intervention. Tehran maintains that outside forces are attempting to inflame unrest and shift the protests toward violence.
Protests fade but toll rises
On the ground, the demonstrations appear to have slowed under a strict security crackdown and ongoing communications blackout. Residents in Tehran report quiet streets, fewer fires, and a reduction in gunfire. Despite this, the death toll is staggering. US-based rights groups report at least 2,677 fatalities, making these protests the deadliest since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, while insiders suggest the actual number could be as high as 15,000 over the past three weeks.
In response to the crackdown, Washington imposed new sanctions on Iranian officials involved in suppressing protests, including a senior national security figure. The G7 and the EU have indicated plans for additional sanctions, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying the bloc aims to increase pressure to force political change in Tehran.
