Trump briefed on military and covert options for Iran, sources say

Speaking to BBC’s US partner CBS News, two Defense Ministry officials said that President Donald Trump has been briefed on a wide range of covert and military tools to be used in Iran.

Long-range missile strikes remain an option for a potential U.S. intervention, but Pentagon officials are also offering cyber operations and psychological campaign responses, the sources said.

Trump announced Monday that he would impose a 25% tariff on goods from countries with commercial ties to Iran, as rights groups say more than 600 protesters have been killed in three weeks of anti-government protests.

Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran was open to negotiations with Washington but remained “prepared for war.”

Trump’s national security team is expected to hold a meeting at the White House on Tuesday to discuss options for Iran, but it is unclear whether the president himself will attend the meeting, sources said.

The US president has previously said his military is considering “very strong options” to intervene if more protesters are killed. Trump said Iranian leaders had called on him to “negotiate” but that the United States “may have to act before the meeting.”

The collapse of Iran’s currency and frustration with economic mismanagement have turned into a crisis of legitimacy for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said an Iranian official also contacted Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, adding that Tehran’s public stance was “quite positive.” [different] from messages received privately by management”.

But he also warned that the US president “is not afraid to use military options if he deems it necessary.”

Any U.S. military intervention in Iran would likely include air power, but planners are also considering options to disrupt Iran’s command structures and communications, said two sources who requested anonymity to discuss national security matters with CBS.

The United States has urged its citizens in Iran to leave the country or have a plan to leave without needing assistance from the U.S. government.

Khamenei praised state-organized pro-government rallies in Iran on Monday, while accusing the United States of “cheating” and relying on “treacherous mercenaries.”

“The Iranian nation is a strong nation, it is aware of its enemies, knows them and is present in every scene,” he said.

State media reported that large crowds gathered in many cities following calls for pro-government demonstrations. BBC Persian has seen text messages inviting people within the country to join these demonstrations, while also warning them not to join anti-government protests.

Separately on Monday, Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he would impose a 25% tariff on goods from countries “doing business” with Tehran, without elaborating further.

“This order is final and definitive,” he added.

Already under heavy US sanctions, Iran faces a collapsing currency and inflation that has caused food prices to rise by up to 70 percent. Food accounts for about a third of Iran’s imports, and further restrictions caused by tariffs could worsen shortages and costs.

The White House did not share additional information about the tariffs. China is Iran’s largest trading partner, followed by Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and India.

The move could put more pressure on Tehran as the Iranian government steps up its crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.

Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah living in exile in the United States, called on Trump to intervene “sooner” to limit the number of deaths among protesters.

In an interview with CBS News, Pahlavi said the current Iranian government is “trying to fool the world into thinking it’s ready to negotiate once again.”

He described Trump as a man who “means what he says and says what he means” and “knows what’s at stake.”

“I think the president will have to make a decision fairly soon,” Pahlavi said.

At least 648 protesters have been killed in Iran, including nine people under the age of 18, according to Norway-based human rights group Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO). Sources in Iran told the BBC the death toll could be much higher.

The BBC and many other international news organizations are unable to report from inside Iran. The internet outage since Thursday evening made it difficult to obtain and verify information.