Trump Weighs Airstrikes Against Iran as Protests Escalate, but Diplomacy Remains the First Option: White House

US President Donald Trump is keeping the option of Airstrikes against Iran firmly on the table as his administration deliberates its response to an intensifying crackdown on anti-government protesters, which has reportedly pushed the death toll to at least 648 people. The White House confirmed on Monday that while military action remains a possibility, diplomacy continues to be the president’s preferred path.

Addressing reporters, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is closely monitoring developments in Iran, where security forces are accused of using lethal force to suppress demonstrations that have continued despite a days-long nationwide internet blackout.

“One thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table,” Leavitt told journalists outside the West Wing. “And airstrikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the commander in chief.”

Leavitt underscored that the situation in Iran is being treated with urgency and concern at the highest levels of the US government. “He certainly doesn’t want to see people being killed in the streets of Tehran, and unfortunately that’s something we’re seeing right now,” she said, referring to Trump’s reaction to reports emerging from the country.

Diplomacy Still Trump’s First Choice, Says White House

Despite the escalating violence, Leavitt stressed that diplomacy remains President Trump’s first and preferred option. She revealed that Iran has adopted a noticeably different tone in private communications compared to its public rhetoric.

“Diplomacy is always the first option for the president,” Leavitt said. “What you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately.”

According to Leavitt, these private exchanges have taken place through Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, indicating that channels of communication between Washington and Tehran remain open despite heightened tensions.

At the same time, she made it clear that Trump has not ruled out the use of force should the situation deteriorate further. “The president has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary,” Leavitt stated. “And nobody knows that better than Iran.”

The press secretary also pointed to recent US military actions as a reminder of Trump’s willingness to act decisively. She said the US had “completely destroyed” Iran’s nuclear program last year, stripping the regime of what she described as its greatest leverage.

Trump Warns Action May Precede Talks

On Sunday, Trump himself issued a stark warning, suggesting that Tehran may have crossed a red line by allowing security forces to kill protesters. He described military action as a “very powerful option” and indicated that it could come even before any formal negotiations.

“We may have to act before a meeting,” Trump told reporters after returning from Florida, adding that Iranian officials had reached out in an attempt to initiate talks.

Iran’s foreign ministry has acknowledged that communication channels remain open. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed earlier that he is in contact with Witkoff, despite the growing strain between the two countries.

Speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic on Monday, Araghchi said Iran was prepared for any response Trump might choose, including military action. Referring to last year’s US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, he warned, “If Washington wants to test the military option it has tested before, we are ready for it.”

At the same time, Araghchi insisted that Tehran remains open to diplomacy. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei echoed that position, saying talks with the US must be “based on the acceptance of mutual interests and concerns, not a negotiation that is one-sided, unilateral and based on dictation.”

As anti-government protests entered another tense phase, pro-regime demonstrators flooded the streets on Monday in a show of support for Iran’s theocratic leadership. According to Iranian state media, tens of thousands of people participated, chanting slogans such as “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” in defense of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

With unrest continuing, international pressure mounting, and military options looming in the background, the coming days are likely to determine whether diplomacy can prevail—or whether the crisis between Washington and Tehran takes a far more dangerous turn.