Trump signals military options
The United States has warned Iran that all options, including military intervention, remain on the table if authorities continue using lethal force against protesters. Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council session, US Ambassador Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump is prepared to act decisively to stop the killings. While Trump suggested the violence may be easing, Washington emphasized that the threat of retaliation remains a serious possibility.
Tehran rejects US accusations
Iran’s deputy ambassador to the UN, Hossein Darzi, pushed back against the US, accusing Washington of trying to stir unrest under the guise of supporting human rights. He claimed the US is using a “humanitarian” narrative to justify potential intervention and political destabilization, insisting that the country’s internal matters should not be influenced by foreign powers.
Protests decline amid rising death toll
On the ground, demonstrations appear to be slowing under heavy security and a nationwide communications blackout. Streets in Tehran are reportedly quieter, with no signs of overnight fires or debris, and gunfire has diminished.
The clampdown has already claimed at least 2,677 lives, making it the deadliest wave of anti-government protests in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, though some sources inside the country fear the toll could reach as high as 15,000. In response, Washington announced new sanctions targeting Iranian officials accused of directing the crackdown, while the G7 and the European Union are considering additional measures. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc aims to increase pressure to push for regime change and meaningful reforms in Tehran.
