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By Suzanne Blake and Gabe Whisnant
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President Donald Trump ordered military assets to be readied for a potential strike on Iran after advisers warned him that a large‑scale attack was unlikely to topple the regime and could ignite a broader conflict, the Wall Street Journal reported.
U.S. officials told the newspaper the White House is monitoring how Tehran responds to nationwide protests before Trump decides on the scope of any operation. Advisers also cautioned that the U.S. would need additional firepower in the Middle East to carry out a major strike and protect American forces and regional allies if Iran retaliates.
While Trump has not made a final decision, the Journal reported he asked for assets to be positioned in case he opts for a large‑scale assault.
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Why It Matters
Tehran targeted Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in June of last year to avenge U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. On Wednesday, workers at the same base, which is America’s largest in the region, were advised to leave following Tehran’s latest threats. Amid these threats, the ruling regime faces the threat of losing power.
“This situation is very different and is about whether the regime is going to continue to exist in its present form or not,” Rosemary Kelanic, the director of the Middle East Program at think tank Defense Priorities, previously told Newsweek.
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What To Know
While previously Trump signaled de-escalation, the White House has said that “all options remain on the table.”
The U.S. issued new sanctions on Iranian officials accused of suppressing protests over Iran's economic collapse. The U.N. Security Council also scheduled an emergency meeting to address Iran for Thursday afternoon.
“Since Jan. 8, we saw a full-fledged war, and anybody who was in the gathering since then is a criminal," said Justice Minister Amin Hossein Rahimi, according to a report Wednesday from the judiciary's Mizan news agency, the AP reported.
Iran's state media has referred to the protests as a "terrorist operation," but the United States has threatened military action over the country's killing of peaceful demonstrators.
On Tuesday, Trump said that "help is on its way" to protestors. This was before his comments on Wednesday when he suggested executions would stop and that there was now "good news" that a protester's death sentence had been reversed.
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 800 executions had been scheduled, but Trump told Iranian officials there would be "grave consequences" if more protesters are killed.
The Islamic Republic also shut down its airspace for more than four hours early Thursday.
Did Iran Threaten President Donald Trump?
This month, Iranian state media aired a message taunting Trump with imagery from his past assassination attempt. The state-run TV message said, “This time the bullet won’t miss," which was widely considered a threat to Trump.
Iran has also warned of retaliation if the U.S. strikes, sparking diplomatic maneuvering, airspace closures, and regional tension.
Iran Protests Explained
Widespread protest demonstrations in Iran have gone on since December 28. The country's economic strife sparked the first protests, as Iran faced skyrocketing inflation of around 40 to 50 percent.
This has caused food and basic goods to be unaffordable for many, and the Iranian rial has been heavily devalued against the dollar.
Other policy changes, like fuel price increases and the end of long-standing subsidies, have made life increasingly difficult for Iranian civilians, leading to the civil unrest.
Has the United States Attacked Iran
No direct U.S. military attack has been levied against Iranian territory as of Thursday afternoon, but the U.S. has threatened military action if Iran continues its deadly attacks on protestors.
U.S. officials say the White House is monitoring how Tehran responds to nationwide protests before Trump decides on the scope of any operation. However, Trump has asked for assets to be positioned in case he opts for a large‑scale assault.
What People Are Saying
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: “All options remain on the table for the president."
Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, told Fox News: “My message is: Between war and diplomacy, diplomacy is a better way, although we don’t have any positive experience from the United States. But still diplomacy is much better than war.”
What Happens Next
The Iranian government's response to civillian's protests has led to the killings of at least 2,637, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, and numbers are expected to increase.
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