The Trump administration has engaged in early internal discussions about potential military action against Iran, including the option of large-scale airstrikes on Iranian military targets, according to people familiar with the matter. Officials told The Wall Street Journal that the planning is preliminary and routine, and no final decisions have been made on a course of action.

Administration sources said there has been no movement of U.S. military equipment or personnel in preparation for an attack, and officials have not reached a consensus on whether to pursue a specific plan. Senior U.S. leaders have discussed which sites might be targeted if the president directs action, with a massive aerial strike campaign on multiple military facilities among the options under consideration.

President Donald Trump has raised his rhetoric toward Tehran amid the continuing crackdown on nationwide protests, signaling public support for demonstrators and warning Iran against further violence. In a recent post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote that “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before” and that the United States “stands ready to help.”

The discussions come against the backdrop of escalating unrest in Iran, where protests that began in late December have spread across dozens of cities. Rights groups and medical sources report hundreds of fatalities and thousands of arrests as security forces have used lethal force against demonstrators. Reporting on the situation varies, with some organizations confirming at least 65 deaths and others, including a Tehran hospital doctor, noting upward of 200 confirmed fatalities.

Iranian authorities have imposed nationwide internet shutdowns and have labeled protesters — and those who aid them — as “enemies of God,” a designation punishable by death under Iranian law.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has condemned foreign interference and accused the United States of fomenting unrest, while members of the U.S. Senate and State Department officials have publicly supported the Iranian protesters. Tehran has also warned that it could respond militarily to perceived threats.

A U.S. military strike on Iran would mark a significant escalation in tensions. The United States previously conducted airstrikes on Iranian soil in June 2025, targeting facilities including the Fordow nuclear enrichment plant during a broader regional conflict.

White House officials stress that the current talks do not indicate that an attack is imminent and describe the planning as part of normal contingency exercises. Still, the discussions reflect growing concern within the administration about Iran’s internal stability and the potential international ramifications of its government’s response to civil unrest.

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