Alayna Treene, Kevin Liptack – CCN Jan 11, 2026
President Donald Trump is weighing a series of potential military options in Iran following deadly protests in the country, two US officials told CNN, as he considers following through on his recent threats to strike the Iranian regime should it use lethal force against civilians.
Trump was briefed in recent days on different plans for intervention, the officials told CNN, as violence in the country has led to dozens of deaths and arrests.
A number of options presented to the president have centered on targeting Tehran’s security services being used to tamp down the protests, the US officials said.
However, there are concerns inside the administration that military strikes could backfire and undermine the protests. The concerns, the officials said, are that strikes could have the unintended effect of rallying the Iranian people to support the government, or lead Iran to retaliate with military force of its own.
Trump is also considering a number of options intended to target Iran’s regime that stop short of military strikes, officials said, as he looks to follow through on a vow to help protesters in the country.
The options include cyber operations going after the Iranian military or regime targets, a step that could disrupt efforts to crack down on protests, an official said.
The options also include new sanctions against regime figures, or sectors of Iran’s economy like energy or banking.
The administration has also explored providing technology like Starlink to bolster internet connectivity in Iran, helping protesters skirt an information blackout. Then-President Joe Biden offered similar connectivity assistance during the last flare up of street protests in 2022.
A number of different agencies have been involved in helping prepare options for the president, officials said. More formal briefings are expected in the coming week, including on Tuesday, when Trump is expected to convene senior national security officials to discuss how to proceed.
Tehran will treat US military and commercial bases as targets for retaliation if Washington intervenes militarily in unrest-hit Iran, its hardline parliamentary speaker has warned.
“If the US takes military action towards Iran or the occupied territories, the US military and shipping centers will be considered legitimate targets,” Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said.
“We do not limit ourselves to only reacting after an action has been taken,” he added.
The president has not yet made a final decision on intervention, the officials said, but he is seriously considering action as the death toll in Iran continues to rise. The options that the president is considering do not involve putting boots on the ground in Iran, a senior White House official told CNN.
At least 10,675 people have been arrested, including 169 children, over the past 15 days during anti-regime demonstrations in Iran, according to a detailed tally provided to CNN by Skylar Thompson, deputy director of Human Rights Activists in Iran (also known as HRA).
HRA’s news arm is called Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
At least 490 protesters have been killed over the same period, according to the group’s latest tally, updated Sunday. CNN is unable to independently verify HRANA’s casualty numbers or arrest figures.
“Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before,” Trump posted to social media on Saturday. “The USA stands ready to help!!!”
On Friday, Trump told reporters that if Tehran engaged in deadly violence against protestors, the US would “get involved.”
“I’ve made the statement very strongly that if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved,” Trump said during a meeting with oil executives. “And that doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Saturday about the ongoing protests, two sources familiar with the call said. The leaders also discussed the situation in Syria and Gaza, they said.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Sunday it is “monitoring developments” in Iran as the country enters its third week of anti-government protests.
“The protests are an internal Iranian matter. Nevertheless, the IDF is prepared defensively and is continuously improving its capabilities and operational readiness,” an IDF spokesperson said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu is set to convene a limited security consultation Sunday evening, with developments in Iran and Lebanon high on the agenda, according to an Israeli source.

Should have finished off Israel last time. They asked for it.
W W 3
Daily Star
82.3K Followers
Most likely Brits to fight first in WW3 revealed as full conscription rules explained
Story by Laura Zilincanova & Joshua Whorms
As global tensions skyrocket, the one major question on the mind of many is “Are we heading to a Third World War?”. General Sir Patrick Sanders and other high-ranking military figures have been cautioning that Europe must brace for an intense confrontation with Putin’s forces, leading to the question: “Who would be on the front lines in the event of a third world war?”
Former MP and ex-British Army officer Dr Mike Martin has issued a stark warning the current army numbers are so critically low that reintroducing conscription is the only answer. Despite conscription primarily being thought to effect young men in their 20 and 30s there are many other demographics the conscription could effect.
From young women to elderly men here are five groups who are most likely to be hit with a call to arms in the event World War Three kicks off.
So, who would be most likely to face the draft? If a major conflict were to erupt, history indicates the first to be conscripted would be young, physically fit men, especially those aged between 18 and 25.
This demographic is typically prioritised as they can be trained quickly and are capable of serving throughout a protracted conflict, reports the express
Speaking personally i have no problems with Putun and russia my problem is with kier sramer and his migrant hordes
The groundwork for conscription
Back then it was laid in early 1939, when the British government initiated limited conscription for single men aged 21 and 22, a full 22 months before the outbreak of the Second World War. As soon as war was declared on a grand scale, these regulations were promptly extended to encompass all men between the ages of 18 and 41.
Back then the prisons were filled with men who said ” not my fight”
but now the prisons are full of migrant criminals, so where will the peaceniks go ?
Historically, beyond age and physical fitness, family status has played a crucial role in deciding who is dispatched to the front lines. During the Second World War, the British government adopted a phased strategy for conscription, intentionally drafting single individuals and those without children first, with the aim of minimising disruption to families.
Women
While the UK has never officially conscripted women for direct frontline combat, the distinction between auxiliary and combat roles has largely disappeared in the 21st century. A YouGov poll conducted in 2024 found that a significant 72% of Brits are in favour of women serving on the frontlines.
Former soldiers and reservists are also likely candidates for conscription, given their existing training which would allow them to quickly adapt to the demands of active service.
Should the war persist, even older individuals might be conscripted. By the end of the Second World War, people up to the age of 51 were drafted. Those aged between 52 and 60 were also required to contribute to civil defence, ensuring that no one could completely evade their duties
Rixon, I looked up the next new moon for the Iran attack. They use the new moon to hide the stealth aircraft initial decapitation strike:
MOON PHASE FOR TRUMPENSTEIN’S ATTACK ON IRAN
Current Time: Jan 13, 2026 at 2:46:06 am
Moon Phase Tonight: Waning Crescent
New Moon: Jan 18, 2026 at 11:21 pm (Next Phase)
do you remember the chant
” hell no we wont go”
prepare to hear it again
our youth dont have a country to fight for
its been given away
Hey Iran, level that Shitty Little State where those Kike scum live and most of the world will be behind you.