What are Trump’s military options for an attack on Iran?

What are Trump’s military options for an attack on Iran? Trump told Iranian protesters that ‘help is on its way’ in a Truth Social post. United States President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened that Washington could intervene militarily in Iran if there is a violent crackdown on demonstrators amid ongoing protests . On Wednesday, it emerged that some personnel have been advised to leave the United States military’s al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar by Wednesday evening, heightening fears of a US strike and potential Iranian retaliation. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 Are Iran’s protests different this time around? list 2 of 4 Trump says ‘help is on the way’ for Iran protesters list 3 of 4 Iran accuses foreign intelligence of being behind protest movement list 4 of 4 Iran’s judiciary to speed up trials of accused in protests crackdown Protests in Iran began in late December 2025 over Iran’s worsening economic conditions. Since then, however, they have escalated into a broader challenge to the country’s clerical leadership, which has been in power since the 1979 Islamic revolution. On Tuesday, Trump took to social media to tell protesters in Iran that help was “on its way”, prompting speculation that US intervention in the country could be imminent. But if Washington does intervene in Iran, what options does it have, and how feasible are they? What has Trump said? In a post on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, Trump wrote: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP”. “MIGA” refers to “Make Iran Great Again” - a play on Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. The US president did not expand on what form this “help” would take. However, on January 2, Trump wrote on Truth Social that if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue”. He added: “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.” What has the Trump administration said? On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that while diplomacy remained Trump’s first option for Iran, he is “unafraid to use the lethal force and might of the United States military if and when he deems that necessary”. “Air strikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the commander-in-chief,” Leavitt said. As president of the US, Trump is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. “He’s made it quite clear 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.” Referring to Trump’s use of military force in Iran, Leavitt said: “Nobody knows that better than Iran.” In June 2025, during Iran’s 12-day war with Israel, the US bombed...

Preview: ~500 words