Trump Eyes Iran Strikes: Military Options, ‘Freedom’ Vow Amid Protests | World News
The New York Times has revealed that US President Donald Trump received a briefing on various military options targeting Iran amid rising tensions in recent days.
According to the NYT report, US President Donald Trump has been briefed on targeted military options against Iran, including attacks on certain Tehran sites linked to the regime’s internal security apparatus. These contingency plans blend diplomatic, economic and military measures to counter increasing violence from Iranian authorities amid ongoing protests across the country.
Earlier, the US President had signaled potential aid at a time of growing anti-regime unrest, saying the US was ready to support the Middle Eastern country as it yearned for “Freedom” like never before. In his post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Iran is looking at FREEDOM perhaps like never before. USA is ready to help!!!”
Add Zee News as Preferred Source
Senator Lindsey Graham further fueled speculation about possible US action, saying on It is a signal that the Ayatollah and his supporters in office should help everyone who sacrifices in Iran.
Earlier today, he made new statements regarding the increasing protests in Iran and called for ‘Make Iran great again’. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, in a post about X: “Freedom now, freedom forever for the long-suffering Iranian people. Death to the Ayatollah regime. Make Iran Great Again.”
Mr. President, as always, you are 100% right.
Freedom now, freedom forever for the long-suffering Iranian people. Death to the Ayatollah regime.
Make Iran Great Again. pic.twitter.com/3D3Kr08wiB— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 11, 2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expanded US support for Iranian protesters, writing in a social media post on X: “The US supports the brave people of Iran.”
The United States supports the brave people of Iran — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 10, 2026
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei accused the USA of inciting the protests and called Iranian protesters trying to please the US President “separatists”. In a post published on
Ayatollah Khamenei challenged the United States with Iran’s capacity and armed preparedness against external threats. In a previous post, X continued: “Today the Iranian nation is much better equipped and armed than it was then. [before the Revolution]. “Both our moral strength and our hard, conventional weapons are incomparable to what we had before.”
Last night, a group of people determined to destroy Tehran and some other cities came and demolished buildings belonging to their own country to please the US President and make him happy. — Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) January 9, 2026
Meanwhile, Iran’s anti-government protests increased across the country for the fourteenth consecutive day on January 10, 2026; as authorities increased security as the demonstrations spread to multiple cities.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, “Protest activities continue across the country amid Iran’s internet shutdown. CTP-ISW has recorded 60 protests in 15 provinces since midnight on January 10 local time – 25 medium-sized, 8 large”, ANI reported.
The protests, which initially started over rising living costs, turned into a mass uprising demanding the overthrow of the Islamic Republic established after the 1979 revolution.
Also Read: Iran Protests: Major Unrest Against Khamenei Regime Resurrects the Lion-Sun Flag | Announced
(with ANI entries)
