President Donald Trump signaled Sunday that Iran may be edging dangerously close to violating key American red lines, pointing to growing reports of civilian deaths as nationwide unrest spreads. He cautioned that any strike on US interests would trigger what he described as overwhelming retaliation.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during his return from Palm Beach to Washington, Trump was asked whether Iran had crossed the threshold that would require a US response. His answer drew a sharp picture of the unfolding crisis.
“They’re starting to, it looks like, and there seem to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed,” he said. “These are violent, if you call them leaders, I don’t know if they’re leaders or just if they rule through violence. And, we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination.”
President Receives Hourly Reports As Protests Intensify
Trump noted that some protesters had died in a stampede while others were shot, adding that he receives updates every hour and will decide next steps as the situation develops.
The remarks came only days after he publicly warned Tehran that the US would hit back forcefully if authorities escalated the crackdown.
“Iran’s in big trouble,” he said. “It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago. We’re watching the situation very carefully.”
President Donald Trump spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., to Joint Base Andrews on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Alex Brandon/AP)
Trump Suggests Powerful Response Without Ground Forces
As unrest spreads, the president hinted at plans for a punishing response that would not require sending in US troops.
“We’ll be hitting them very hard where it hurts. And that doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts,” Trump said.
According to the National Council of Resistance in Iran, demonstrations expanded to at least 190 cities by Saturday, marking one of the broadest protest waves the country has seen.
Mounting Casualties And Detentions Deepen Crisis
Activists told the Associated Press that at least 544 people had been killed, with fears the real toll could be even higher. Meanwhile, Tehran warned that both the US military and Israel would be treated as “legitimate targets” should Washington intervene to protect protesters.
More than 10,600 people have been arrested since the unrest began, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported. The organization, considered reliable during past crackdowns, said that 496 of those killed were protesters while 48 were members of the security forces.
In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)
Iran Seals Off Internet As Anger Spreads
Authorities moved this week to tighten their grip, imposing a sweeping internet blackout that largely severed the country from the outside world. The shutdown unfolded as anti-regime protests spread and officials escalated threats of harsh punishment for anyone participating.
