US President Donald Trump has declared he believes the Iranian regime could be on the brink of collapse, as his administration actively considers potential military intervention in response to weeks of violent unrest.
Pentagon Presents Military Options
According to a report from Sky News' partner network NBC News, the Pentagon has been preparing tailored military options to meet the president's objectives. These options were due to be presented to Mr Trump on Wednesday, according to two US officials and another source familiar with the discussions.
Preparations have accelerated this week, with the United States already beginning to withdraw some military personnel from its strategic Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American base in the region. Sky News understands that UK personnel stationed at the same base were also departing.
Executions and Escalating Violence
The crisis was triggered by widespread demonstrations that began last month. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports that at least 2,615 people have been killed in the government crackdown, though other estimates suggest the figure is significantly higher.
Earlier this week, President Trump promised that "help is on the way" for the protesters and vowed to take "very strong action" if Tehran proceeded with executing arrested demonstrators. However, speaking in the Oval Office on Wednesday, he struck a more cautious tone, claiming he had been informed that "the killing in Iran is stopping".
The situation remains precarious for those detained. The family of Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old reportedly arrested last Thursday, told Sky News there was no update on his status but feared he could face execution at any time. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has claimed in an interview that no executions are planned.
International Reaction and Regime Stability
In an interview with Reuters, President Trump commented directly on the regime's future. "Any regime can fail," he stated, adding, "Whether or not it falls or not, it's going to be an interesting period of time." He expressed doubt, however, about the potential for exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to assume leadership, questioning how he would "play within his own country".
The international community is watching closely. The British embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed, with the Foreign Office confirming the "precautionary measure" of withdrawing UK staff. The G7 group of nations, including the UK, issued a joint statement expressing grave concern and warning they "remain prepared to impose additional restrictive measures" if the crackdown continues.
Meanwhile, Iran has been largely cut off from the outside world, with internet monitoring group NetBlocks reporting the country has been severed from global telecommunications for over six days as the government attempts to suppress dissent.
