President Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday that the United States may delay any military action against Iran, following reports from sources “on the other side” indicating that Tehran would stop killing protesters amid widespread unrest. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he had been reassured the crackdown had stopped, adding that he would be “very upset” if violence resumed.

The comments marked a notable shift in tone after Trump had previously encouraged Iranians to continue protests against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and hinted that the U.S. would “act accordingly” in response to the killings. He stated that he would continue monitoring the situation before making further decisions.

A White House official earlier confirmed that Trump had been briefed on a range of military options, including strikes on nonmilitary sites. Vice President JD Vance chaired a National Security Council meeting on Iran while Trump traveled to Michigan, and U.S. personnel in Qatar and other regional bases have been redeployed amid concerns over potential Iranian threats.

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Analysts have suggested that potential targets could range from Iran’s internal security facilities and military sites to missile factories, with the most extreme option involving strikes against key political figures. Any airstrikes would likely be launched from U.S. forces stationed outside the Middle East or from long-range missile-capable destroyers in the region.

Trump also expressed uncertainty over whether opposition leader Reza Pahlavi, son of the late Shah, has sufficient domestic support to lead Iran, while noting that the regime could collapse due to sustained protests. Outside experts and advocacy groups have called on the U.S. to intervene, warning that history could judge Washington harshly if it fails to act while civilian killings continue.

Meanwhile, Iran has issued stern warnings to the U.S. and Israel against any foreign intervention, highlighting the risks of escalating tensions as the country faces widespread civil unrest and international scrutiny.

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