US President Donald Trump is considering air strikes on Iran to stop a crackdown on protesters, the White House said Monday, adding that people were being “killed on the streets.”But a channel for diplomacy remains open, with Iran taking a “far different tone” in private discussions with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “One thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table. And air strikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the commander in chief,” Leavitt told reporters outside the West Wing. Iran’s foreign ministry said earlier Monday that a channel of communication was open between its top diplomat Abbas Araghchi and Trump’s special envoy, despite a lack of diplomatic relations. Trump said on Sunday that the US military was considering “very strong options” against Iran, saying it “looks like” Tehran had crossed his previously stated red line of protesters being killed.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 13, 2026 10:04 UTC