U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet with senior US officials on Tuesday to review Washingtons options in response to Iran's crackdown on mass anti-government protests. The president will meet with senior aides, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, on Tuesday to weigh up options, including military strikes and sanctions, according to The Wall Street Journal. Theyre starting to, it looks like, Mr Trump said, when asked by reporters aboard Air Force One if Iran had crossed his previously stated red line of protesters being killed. Were looking at it very seriously. The military is looking at it, and were looking at some very strong options. Well make a determination, he said. It comes after Irans parliamentary speaker warned on Sunday that Tehran would consider Israel and US bases and ships to be fair targets if Washington does involve itself, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. Over the weekend, authorities tightened their grip on the unrest as protesters were warned that they could face the de@th penalty for causing damage to property. The military accused foreign enemies of fuelling the unrest, meanwhile, and urged civilians to stay vigilant against so-called enemy plots. The US-based rights group HRANA reported on Sunday evening that the de@th toll has surpassed 500, and that more than 10,000 people had been arrested. They noted difficulty sourcing reliable information, with Iran maintaining its internet blackout nationwide..
0 Comments