United States President Donald Trump has said that Washington is considering \u201cstrong options\u201d in response to Iran\u2019s crackdown on anti-government protests, including possible military intervention.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking at it very seriously. The military is looking at it, and we\u2019re looking at some very strong options. We\u2019ll make a determination,\u201d he told reporters on board Air Force One late on Sunday.<\/p>\n
He said Iran\u2019s leadership had called, seeking \u201cto negotiate\u201d after his threats of military action, and that a \u201cmeeting is being set up\u201d.<\/p>\n
But he added that \u201cwe may have to act before a meeting\u201d.<\/p>\n
There was no immediate comment from Tehran.<\/p>\n
Iranian leaders earlier on Sunday issued a stark warning<\/a> against military intervention, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf saying: \u201cIn the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories [Israel] as well as all US bases and ships will be our legitimate target.\u201d<\/p>\n The protests in Iran began on December 28, when merchants at Tehran\u2019s Grand Bazaar closed their shops over the Iranian rial\u2019s plummeting value. The demonstrations quickly spread nationwide, with grievances evolving from concerns over soaring living costs to broader opposition against Iran\u2019s clerical establishment, who have governed the country since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.<\/p>\n According to Iranian state media, at least 109 security personnel have been killed<\/a> in the unrest, but opposition activists based outside the country say the death toll is higher and includes hundreds of protesters.<\/p>\n A nationwide internet blackout has also persisted for more than 72 hours, according to monitoring groups.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that his government was \u201cready to listen to\u201d protesters, but urged the public to prevent \u201crioters\u201d and \u201cterrorist elements\u201d from wreaking havoc.<\/p>\n He told the IRIB broadcaster that that Israel and the US, which waged a 12-day war against Iran in June of last year, were masterminding the unrest in the country, saying that \u201cthe same people that struck this country\u201d were \u201ctrying to escalate these unrests with regard to the economic discussion\u201d.<\/p>\n The unrest in Iran<\/a> is unfolding as Trump pursues an assertive foreign policy, having abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and discussing acquiring Greenland by purchase or force.<\/p>\n Trump was scheduled to meet with senior advisers on Tuesday to discuss options for Iran, a \u2060US official told the Reuters news agency. The Wall Street Journal reported that options included military strikes, using secret cyberweapons, widening sanctions and providing online help to anti-government sources.<\/p>\n Trump said on Sunday that he plans to speak with billionaire Elon Musk about restoring internet in Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s very good at that kind of thing, he\u2019s got a very good company,\u201d Trump told reporters in response \u2060to a question about whether he would engage with Musk\u2019s SpaceX company, which offers a satellite \u200binternet service called Starlink that has been used in Iran.<\/p>\n The US leader also spoke on his plans for Venezuela and Greenland.<\/p>\n Trump confirmed he would be meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado on Tuesday or Wednesday. He said global oil companies will also be \u201csafe\u201d if they invest in Venezuela, repeating a pledge made last week during a White House meeting with oil executives.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are guarantees they\u2019re going to be safe,\u201d he said. \u201cThey had problems in the past because they didn\u2019t have Trump as president. They had stupid people.\u201d<\/p>\n On Greenland, Trump called for the Danish Arctic territory to \u201cmake a deal\u201d, and said \u201cwe are talking about acquiring it, not making a short term deal\u201d.<\/p>\n Trump repeated his previous \u2013 and unproven \u2013 claims that China and Russia had deployed \u201cdestroyers and submarines all over the place\u201d in the waters around Greenland. The territory\u2019s defence force, he said, was made up of \u201ctwo dogsleds\u201d.<\/p>\n Trump, who has previously said that US annexation of Greenland<\/a> is necessary for Washington\u2019s self-defence, said Russia and China will take Greenland if the US does not.<\/p>\n