Trump administration says still considering military strikes on Iran

The White House says that US could transportation retired aerial strikes against Iran but would similar diplomatic solution.

The medication of United States President Donald Trump has continued to threaten Iran with subject attacks, saying that aerial strikes are 1 of “many options” being explored arsenic wide protests enactment the Iranian authorities nether increasing pressure.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said connected Monday that diplomacy is “always the archetypal option” but that subject attacks are “on the table”.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 3What we cognize astir the protests sweeping Iran
• list 2 of 3Trump says US considering ‘very beardown options’ for Iran
• list 3 of 3Which are Iran’s main absorption groups?

“One happening President Trump is precise bully astatine is ever keeping each of his options connected the table. And aerial strikes would beryllium 1 of the many, galore options that are connected the array for the commandant successful chief,” Leavitt told reporters.

Large-scale protests and riots person roiled Iran, with information forces responding with a lethal crackdown implicit the past respective days that is estimated to person killed hundreds of people. Iranian authorities person said that scores of information unit person besides been killed successful the riots.

Opposition activists accidental the decease toll is higher and includes hundreds of protesters. Al Jazeera cannot independently verify these figures. Details person been hard to verify amid an net blackout.

Trump, who bombed Iranian atomic facilities successful June and has antecedently threatened Tehran with further strikes if it does not travel into greater alignment with US demands, had utilized the government’s harsh crackdown connected protesters arsenic a pretext for further subject attacks against the longtime US foe.

A US onslaught connected Iran would apt interruption planetary law, and Trump has often threatened countries that defy his volition with imaginable subject strikes.

The Wall Street Journal reported connected Monday that immoderate members of the Trump medication specified arsenic Vice President JD Vance are urging Trump to see renewed diplomatic efforts with Tehran oregon different little terrible alternatives to US strikes, citing unnamed US officials. The US president said connected Sunday that Iran had “called” and wanted to “negotiate”.

“What you’re proceeding publically from the Iranian authorities is rather antithetic from the messages the medication is receiving privately,” Leavitt said.

“The president has shown he’s unafraid to usage subject options if and erstwhile helium deems necessary, and cipher knows that amended than Iran,” she added.