US ‘may need to act’ in Iran, examines ‘strong options’ despite regime reaching out for talks, says President Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he is examining potential moves in Iran, signaling that he is weighing military options despite the regime having reached out for new talks with Washington. 

“I think they’re tired of being beaten up by the United States,” he said. “Iran wants to negotiate.” 

“We may need to act before a meeting with them… we are in the process of coordinating a meeting,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. 

“We are following what is happening in Iran with the utmost seriousness and are examining several very strong options. I receive updates on Iran every hour. In the end, we will make a decision.” 

🚨 BREAKING: Iran has CALLED President Trump, a meeting is being set up - but he says they STILL could launch strikes

"The leaders of Iran are tired of being BEAT UP by the US. Iran wants to negotiate, yes."

"A meeting is being set up - but we may have to ACT because of what's… pic.twitter.com/Of2QemsMf4

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 12, 2026

The Jerusalem Post on Sunday cited “several sources familiar with the details of the discussions” that Trump is expected to carry out moves to help the Iranian people, who have continued to demonstrate against the regime despite a days-long bloody crackdown. 

“Trump has essentially decided to help the protesters in Iran. What he has not yet decided is the ‘how’ and the ‘when,’” the sources said. 

In the past few days, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is weighing military options and was presented with several potential moves by security officials. 

“The spectrum ranges from a military option, namely strikes against regime targets, to cyber support against the regime, to providing Starlink systems to help protesters,” one source told the Jerusalem Post. 

"While the Trump administration does not believe that the Iranian regime is collapsing, it definitely sees problems and cracks that did not exist a week ago,” the source added. 

A scene of the Iranian security forces opening fire directly into the crowd of protesters nearby. https://t.co/eNn4i5Gqui

— مهدی یحیی‌نژاد Mehdi Yahyanejad (@mehdiy_fa) January 12, 2026

On Sunday, Trump said he would speak with 𝕏 and Starlink founder Elon Musk about ways to restore internet access to Iran, after the regime cut internet was well as phone lines for over three days. 

Israeli media reported that even Starlink terminals, which enable internet connection via the company's satellites, were jammed by the regime, possibly with help from Russia. 

Trump said about Musk that “He's very good at that kind of thing, he's got a very good company.” 

Talking about Iranian threats to hit U.S. bases in the Middle East in case the U.S. attacked, Trump said, “they (the Iranian regime) will be hit in a way they have never been hit before. I have the strongest possible options; they will not believe the power we have. Iran’s leaders called yesterday to negotiate. We may be forced to act even before a meeting. They want to negotiate.” 

More than 544 people killed, 10,681 arrested, and protests recorded in 585 locations across all 31 provinces as Iran’s nationwide protests enter day 15.
Check out HRANA’s full report:https://t.co/hWBlLjbxmo pic.twitter.com/f0GRspEW6n

— HRANA English (@HRANA_English) January 11, 2026

The president was also asked about the red line on the regime killing peaceful protesters, which he had talked about several times. “They’re starting to, it looks like,” Trump said. 

According to the human rights group HRANA, which has compiled reports from inside Iran amid the information blackout, at least 544 people have been killed and 10,681 arrested by the regime. However, Israeli security officials told Channel 12 News that Israel’s intelligence assessment is that over 1,000 protesters have been killed. 

Trump is reportedly set to meet with his national security team on Tuesday to discuss options to support the protesters. 

Meanwhile in Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed on Monday that “the situation has come under total control” before claiming that the protests had only “turned violent and bloody to give an excuse” for Trump to intervene in the country. 

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is not seeking war but is fully prepared for war,” Araghchi added. “We are also ready for negotiations but these negotiations should be fair, with equal rights and based on mutual respect.”