One death is one too many, Donald Trump says about reports of thousands of deaths in Iran. But in a speech in Detroit, he did not specify how the United States can or will act regarding possible attacks on the country. According to the BBC, he urged allies to leave Iran.
"They should leave. It's not a stupid idea," he told reporters before the speech.
In an interview with CBS News, published shortly after the speech, he threatened a "very strong intervention" if the regime starts hanging detained protesters.
"We don't want what's happening in Iran to happen. When they start killing thousands of people, and now I hear about hangings, we'll see how it ends for them. It's not going to go well for the regime," he said.
A few hours earlier, the president had written to the Iranian people in a post on Truth Social: "Help is on the way."
Expecting a revenge attack
Trump also wrote there that he had canceled all American meetings with Iranian representatives "until the senseless killing of protesters stops." The statement that help is on the way comes at a time when, according to officials, he is considering several different options regarding Iran.
Among other things, the possibility of attacking Iran's nuclear energy program is being discussed - more harshly than it was attacked in the 12-day war against Israel in June - as well as places where ballistic missiles are stored, according to anonymous American officials who spoke to The New York Times.
However, a cyberattack or another form of attack against Iran's security apparatus, which uses deadly force against protesters, is more likely, according to the sources.
A US attack, which is believed to provoke a "powerful retaliation" from Iran, is said to be at least several days away. Diplomatic options are also being considered, the sources said.
Likes to win
Ali Larijani, spokesman for Iran's National Security Council, responded to Trump's remarks in a post on X in which he called the US president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the "main murderers of the Iranian people."
Trump reiterated to CBS that help is on the way and mentioned, among other things, financial support for those affected. When asked directly by CBS News what his ultimate goal was with any action against Iran, the president replied:
The ultimate goal is to win. I like to win.
