Trump says Iran beginning to cross US pink strains amid lethal protests

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President Donald Trump mentioned Sunday that Iran is "beginning to" cross U.S. pink strains, citing stories of civilian deaths and warning that any assault on American pursuits could be met with overwhelming pressure as his administration weighs what he known as "very sturdy choices."

Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Power One whereas touring from Palm Seashore, Florida, again to Washington, D.C., after being requested whether or not Iran had crossed a threshold that might set off a response.

"They're beginning to, it appears like, and there appear to be some folks killed that are not alleged to be killed," the president mentioned. "These are violent — when you name them leaders, I do not know if their leaders or simply in the event that they rule by way of violence. And, we're taking a look at some very sturdy choices. We’ll make a willpower."

Some protesters were killed in a stampedes whereas others have been shot, Trump later mentioned, including that he receives hourly briefings and can determine primarily based on ongoing stories.

EXILED IRANIAN CROWN PRINCE URGES TRUMP TO HELP AS PROTESTS AGAINST ISLAMIC REGIME INTENSIFY: 'MAN OF PEACE'

President Donald Trump spoke with reporters aboard Air Power One whereas touring from his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Seashore, Fla., to Joint Base Andrews on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Alex Brandon/AP)

The feedback got here simply days after Trump warned the U.S. would reply forcefully if the Iranian regime escalates its crackdown.

"Iran’s in massive bother," he mentioned. "It appears to me that the persons are taking up sure cities that no person thought have been actually attainable just some weeks in the past. We’re watching the scenario very fastidiously."

EXILED IRANIAN PRINCE SAYS REGIME ‘VERY CLOSE TO COLLAPSING' AMID NATIONWIDE UNREST

On this body seize from video obtained by the AP outdoors Iran, a masked demonstrator holds an image of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi throughout a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC through AP)

Trump added, "We’ll be hitting them very laborious the place it hurts. And that doesn’t imply boots on the bottom, but it surely means hitting them very, very laborious the place it hurts."

Protests had spread to at least 190 cities throughout Iran by Saturday, based on the Nationwide Council of Resistance in Iran.

ARMED IRANIAN PROTESTERS BATTLE POLICE IN TEHRAN STREETS AS TRUMP WARNS OF FORCEFUL US RESPONSE

Protesters march in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Fars Information Company through AP)

The Related Press reported Sunday that activists claimed a minimum of 544 folks have been killed, with extra feared lifeless. Tehran additionally warned that the U.S. military and Israel could be thought of "legit targets" if the U.S. intervenes to guard demonstrators.

Greater than 10,600 folks have been detained during the more than two weeks of protests, based on the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists Information Company, which the AP famous has been correct throughout earlier unrest. The group mentioned 496 of these killed have been protesters and 48 have been members of safety forces.

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Authorities additionally imposed a sweeping internet blackout this week, largely reducing Iran off from the surface world as anti-regime protests unfold and officers escalated threats of harsh punishment.