A senior Pentagon source told CBS News that defense leaders showed Donald Trump several ways to handle Iran – some open, others hidden. Another official confirmed the details, noting tensions are rising within Iran itself. Protests have spread. World leaders are reacting. Options discussed included actions taken without warning. Pressure builds on Tehran from multiple directions. What happens next stays unclear.
Some reports mention talk of using far-reaching missiles, along with less common tactics like digital attacks and messaging efforts meant to interfere with how Iran’s leaders stay connected. Air missions still seem the top choice for now, though planners are looking hard at ways that skip sending troops into battle. Not every idea on the table relies on bombs or planes; some aim to weaken control without firing a shot.
Fueled by Trump’s Monday declaration came these talks – a 25 percent tax slapped on imports from nations still trading with Iran. This pressure piles up while Iran reels under deep financial stress, unrest spreading across cities, reports surfacing of over 600 protest deaths piling up fast amid state-led violence lately.
White House Considers Next Steps
Meetings about Iran are set for Tuesday inside the White House, with officials weighing possible moves. It’s uncertain if Trump will show up himself. Before this, he had said America might act forcefully should violence against demonstrators go on.
Few whispers from Tehran reached him first, according to the president. Calls came through, he noted – talks wanted behind closed doors. A move might come even before any sit-down happens, he believes.
Out front, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt doubled down on the point. What Iran says out loud doesn’t match what it tells Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, behind closed doors. Force remains on the table – Trump won’t hesitate if he sees a need. That much was made clear
Iran readies for war while hinting at talks
Still willing to talk, Iran’s top diplomat says a path exists with America – yet warns readiness for conflict stands firm. On another note, the nation’s highest authority, Ali Khamenei, claims Washington plays false, using deceitful fighters to weaken his country from within.
Monday saw crowds gather in cities through Iran, backed by the government. Khameeini called the events strong shows of support. State-run outlets said many people showed up. Messages circulated via mobile networks, pushing attendance at these gatherings. At the same time, warnings spread about joining opposition actions. The BBC’s Persian service noted the texts making their way to phones.
Economic Pressure Mounts
Around a third of what Iran brings in from abroad is food, making daily meals harder to secure. When money loses value fast, buying basics gets tougher for everyone involved. Prices at markets have jumped sharply already, some near seventy percent since last year. New trade taxes just added by Trump may stretch supply thinner than before.
Experts say shelves might empty faster if pressure keeps building this way.
Even without clear rules from the White House on enforcement, trade between China and Iran holds strong. Next in line are Iraq, then the UAE, Turkey close behind, with India also deep in exchange.
Folks from the US inside Iran are being told by their government to get out now. Those who stay should figure out how to leave without help from officials back home.
Calls for Faster Action
Out of nowhere, Reza Pahlavi – son of Iran’s former shah, now living abroad – urged Donald Trump to act fast, hoping fewer civilians would get caught in violence. In a conversation with CBS News, he claimed Tehran is faking openness to talks while hiding its real intentions.
Calling him straightforward, he said Trump stands by his words – now the president must choose a path forward in the time just ahead.
Folks over at a Norway group called Iran Human Rights say around 648 demonstrators are dead, nine of them kids. People quietly reporting from within Iran hint that the real number could go way up. Still, nothing’s confirmed beyond what’s already out there.
Outside news groups still can’t get stories straight from Iran.
The BBC among them. With web access cut off, piecing together what is happening feels like guessing in the dark. Information stays locked behind digital walls.
