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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.
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Table of Contents
- Recommended Stories
- What has Trump said?
- What has the Trump administration said?
- U.S. Diplomats Reportedly Preparing for Potential Departure from Iraq
- Recent U.S. Military action Against Iran
- Potential for Targeting Iranian Leadership
- Al Udeid Air Base and Diplomatic Movements
- Historical Context: U.S.-Iran Relations
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Protests in Iran began in late December 2025 over Iran’s worsening economic conditions. as than, though, 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.
Though, 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 manny, 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 regrettably, 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 20
U.S. Diplomats Reportedly Preparing for Potential Departure from Iraq
U.S. diplomats are reportedly preparing for a potential departure from the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, though officials characterize the movement as a “posture change” rather than an evacuation. This development follows recent U.S. military action against Iranian nuclear sites and raises questions about the potential for escalated conflict in the region.
Recent U.S. Military action Against Iran
The United States recently conducted a strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, deploying B-2 stealth bombers to drop 14 “bunker buster” bombs on at least two sites. This demonstrates the continued U.S. military capability to directly target iranian infrastructure. No official confirmation of the specific targets or damage assessment has been released as of January 14, 2026.
Potential for Targeting Iranian Leadership
Experts suggest the U.S. approach under a potential second Trump administration would favor swift, targeted operations minimizing risk to U.S. personnel.
Shahram Akbarzadeh, a professor of Middle East and Central asian politics at deakin University, noted this preference for rapid operations in an interview with Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera’s coverage details the analysis of potential U.S. strategies.
Al Udeid Air Base and Diplomatic Movements
Diplomatic activity is also focused on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.One diplomat,speaking to Reuters,indicated preparations are underway but stated there is no known specific trigger for the movement. reuters reported on this development on january 11, 2024, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.
Historical Context: U.S.-Iran Relations
U.S.-Iran relations have been marked by decades of tension,punctuated by periods of direct and indirect conflict. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, was unilaterally withdrawn from by the U.S. in 2018 under the Trump administration.The U.S. Department of State provides detailed facts on the JCPOA and subsequent U.S. policy.
