NYT: military presented Trump with options for strikes on Iran, including on civilian targets in Tehran.
In recent days, Donald Trump has been presented with several options for new military strikes on Iran, The New York Times reports, citing several American sources, as quoted by Meduza.
According to the newspaper, the options presented to the U.S. president include strikes on non-military targets in Tehran. There are no details on what these targets are.
According to sources speaking to The New York Times, Trump has not yet made a final decision but is "seriously considering the possibility of sanctioning" a new strike. A senior military official stated that before any potential attack, commanders in the region would need time to strengthen American positions and prepare for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran.
The Wall Street Journal also reports that representatives of the Trump administration have held preliminary discussions on the options. One official stated that a large-scale airstrike on Iranian military targets was discussed. Another said that there is no consensus on a course of action, and so far no American military equipment or personnel have been redeployed in preparation for a strike.
Sources describe these discussions as part of routine planning and clarify that there are currently no signs of an imminent attack on Iran.
In response to a request for comment, the White House referred to Trump's post on the social network Truth Social. It states: "Iran is seeking freedom, perhaps like never before. The U.S. is ready to help!!!".
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that any U.S. attack would lead to retaliatory strikes from Tehran on Israel and U.S. military bases in the region, which would be considered "legitimate targets".
Strikes in Iran began on December 28, initially triggered by the collapse of the national currency and massive inflation. Soon, protests spread across almost the entire country, with two cities in western Iran coming under the control of the protesters. Authorities began suppressing the protests; amid this, the internet has been almost completely shut down in the country. The number of fatalities has reportedly exceeded 200, although accurate information is lacking.
