Trump Threatens To Use Military Force Against Iran, Says He May Act Before Talks

President Donald Trump said Iran's leaders called to seek talks after he warned of possible military action over a deadly, nationwide crackdown on anti-government protests.

“Summary He said Iran phoned and wants to negotiate”

AAP News

He cautioned that the U.S. 'may have to act before a meeting'.

AAP News

The Trump administration says a meeting to arrange talks is underway while he planned to meet senior advisers to review options.

White House spokespeople stressed he prefers diplomacy even as he keeps military options on the table.

Administration reports and media coverage list a menu of possible responses under review, including military strikes, covert cyber operations, tougher sanctions and measures to support antigovernment groups online, according to outlets citing unnamed U.S. officials and reporting by Reuters and the Wall Street Journal.

Senior aides, including Vice President J.D. Vance, are reported to be urging diplomatic engagement to avoid kinetic action.

Al Jazeera

The White House says all options remain available.

Casualty figures and the scale of repression vary across reports.

“President Trump said Iran has asked to negotiate and a meeting is being arranged, but he may order action before any talks; he planned to meet senior advisers to review options, which Reuters and the Wall Street Journal say range from military strikes and covert cyberattacks to wider sanctions and online support for antigovernment groups”

Business Day

U.S.-based rights group HRANA is cited by multiple outlets as saying roughly 490 protesters and dozens of security personnel have been killed and more than 10,600 people arrested.

Other outlets and rights groups put the toll higher, with one report saying more than 650 killed.

Many outlets stress that Reuters and others could not independently verify these figures because an internet blackout has hampered reporting.

Iranian officials have publicly blamed foreign elements, accusing the U.S. and Israel of fomenting unrest.

Officials said Tehran is keeping communications open and is ready for war but also for dialogue.

CBC

State-linked reporting describes pro-government rallies and security actions, including weapons seizures and arrests.

Iranian leaders warned they would target U.S. bases and Israel if attacked.

Western mainstream outlets focus on U.S. statements, rights-group casualty tallies and the president's stated willingness to use force, while also flagging limits to independent verification.

“In an interview with CNN, President Donald Trump said “people are calling for change” and warned he could attack Iran if its security forces respond with force to protesters — hundreds of whom are reported to have been killed”

CNN

West Asian outlets emphasize the communications blackout, question U.S. motives and highlight allegations that Washington might be using the crackdown as a pretext.

CNN

Israeli outlets stress political debates, potential Israeli-U.S. coordination and the security implications of events.

Across all reporting there is ambiguity and conflicting figures, and multiple outlets explicitly state they cannot independently verify many of the claims.