Even after President Donald Trump declared that “the killing in Iran has stopped” and Iran claims to have full control, European and Middle East sources believe a U.S. strike on the nation is imminent. NeoCons from the Council on Foreign Relations and war hawks like John Bolton are already salivating over the prospects.
US forces appear poised to strike Iran as early as tomorrow, according to two European diplomats speaking to Reuters. An Israeli source echoed this, noting President Trump has committed to intervention, though exact targets and scale remain under wraps. This escalation follows weeks of deadly protests in Iran, where the regime’s crackdown has claimed somewhere between 2,000 and 20,000 lives by official counts, with human rights groups estimating even higher tolls amid an ongoing internet blackout.
The unrest erupted on December 28, 2025, in Tehran’s bazaars over skyrocketing inflation and the rial’s collapse, losing nearly half its value since Iran’s brief war with Israel last June. What began as economic fury quickly turned into demands for regime change, with crowds chanting against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and even praising the exiled son of the former shah, Reza Pahlavi. Security forces responded with live fire, targeting heads and eyes in some cases, as documented by Amnesty International and verified videos from The New York Times.
Iran’s leaders have scrambled to contain the fallout, suspending talks with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, a Trump confidant from New York’s real estate world who has brokered Middle East deals since 2025. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reached out to Witkoff over the weekend about the protests, but Trump canceled all meetings, posting on Truth Social that further diplomacy was off the table. A senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters the channel is now closed, blaming US threats for derailing nuclear discussions.
In response, Tehran warned Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, and others hosting US troops that their bases would become targets if America attacks. This came as the US began pulling non-essential personnel from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, home to 10,000 American troops, and Britain followed suit from its own facilities there. NBC News reported hundreds of US forces evacuating amid Trump’s deliberations on options tailored to punish the regime’s brutality.
Trump has made his stance clear: any violent retaliation against protesters would trigger a US response “at levels never seen before.” Yet in a White House briefing today, he noted receiving assurances that killings and executions have halted, adding, “We’ll watch and see what the process is.” Former National Security Advisor John Bolton, in a Euronews interview, suggested targeted strikes could tip the balance inside Iran, potentially sparking defections among the elite.
Nations are urging their citizens to flee Iran immediately. Poland’s foreign ministry posted on X: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges the immediate departure from Iran and advises against all travel to this country.”
Italy cited security risks for its 600 nationals, mostly in Tehran, while the US advised overland exits to Turkey or Armenia if safe. The UK closed its Tehran embassy today, shifting operations remotely, signaling heightened alert.
Analysts warn a US move could unify Iran’s hardliners, per The Media Line, or backfire by harming civilians more than the regime, as Iranian immigrants told WBEZ Chicago. Still, with Iran’s proxy funding for groups like Hezbollah draining resources while citizens suffer, protesters’ chants of “No to Gaza; no to Lebanon; my life only for Iran” reflect deep resentment.
Trump’s approach contrasts past hesitations, prioritizing American strength and support for those fighting tyranny. As one Western military official told Reuters, “All the signals are that a US attack is imminent, but unpredictability is part of the strategy.” If action unfolds, it may finally break the mullahs’ grip, echoing biblical prophecies of Persia’s fall in times of upheaval, and paving the way for a freer Iran.
