JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
Iran's government is cracking down hard on massive nightly street protests. The security forces have now killed several hundred protesters. That's according to human rights groups. Meanwhile, President Trump keeps suggesting the U.S. may get involved. Here he is on Air Force One Sunday night.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We're looking at it very seriously. The military's looking at it. And we're looking at some very strong options.
SUMMERS: For more, we're joined by NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez and national security correspondent Greg Myre. Hi to both of you.
FRANCO ORDOÑEZ, BYLINE: Hello.
GREG MYRE, BYLINE: Hi, Juana.
SUMMERS: Greg, I'll start with you. Tell us what the latest is on these protests.
MYRE: Yeah. The Iranian security forces are using deadly force much more frequently in recent days. More than 500 Iranians have been killed now over the past two weeks. These are mostly protesters and some security force members. This is according to the human rights activists in Iran. They are based here in the U.S. but have monitors in Iran. Now, neither NPR nor other news organization can verify these figures because information is so fragmented from Iran right now. The government has shut down the internet for the past several days. We are seeing videos on social media but very little solid information. Local journalists are restrained. Foreign journalists can't get into the country.
And over the years, we've seen several outbursts of these large street demonstrations, dating back really to 2009. The latest one erupted over miserable economic conditions, but now there are increasing calls to oust the regime. This may well be the biggest challenge to the Islamic government since it came to power in 1979.
SUMMERS: And as we heard at the top, President Trump says he is looking at all sorts of options in Iran. Franco, what can you tell us about them?
ORDOÑEZ: Yeah, President Trump said Iran is starting to cross his red lines. But he did not say exactly what they're looking at, but he and his administration say they are weighing several different possibilities, including military and nonmilitary options. And he said, after making earlier threats, that the leaders of Iran reached out actually over the weekend and want to negotiate. Now, his team is working on a meeting, but he also said they might have to act sooner if this violence that Greg is talking about continues. Trump's expected to meet with his national security team tomorrow about Iran.
Iran actually has responded as well, warning that U.S. bases could be considered a legitimate target if the U.S. goes through with the strike. But press secretary Karoline Leavitt called those comments laughable today and said on Fox News that the regime is saying one thing publicly and saying something very different privately to the administration.
SUMMERS: But is President Trump's goal really to protect protesters? I mean, he's not exactly known for fighting for human rights. What kind of deal is he seeking?
ORDOÑEZ: Yeah, he's definitely not known for fighting for human rights. But let's also remember that he did order military strikes on Syrian targets during his first administration in response to chemical attacks by the Assad regime. At that time, he talked about his red line being crossed as well and specifically cited the image of choking children. Now, today, or this weekend, Trump also said he would talk with billionaire Elon Musk about possibly getting Starlink - Musk's satellite internet service - to help with communications in Iran. But what Trump really wants, and this is something he's wanted for a long time, is a deal that permanently prevents Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
SUMMERS: Franco, what kind of feedback is President Trump getting from Congress, U.S. allies, other countries in the Middle East?
ORDOÑEZ: Well, he's always bouncing ideas off his friends and allies. One close ally, Senator Lindsey Graham, for example, is urging Trump to kill - quote, "kill" - the leaders of Iran who are killing protesters. Graham argued on Fox News that taking out the supreme leaders would lead to peace and a new day in the Middle East. Now, of course, other lawmakers have expressed caution about taking military action. We've also heard, Juana, from the exiled crown prince of Iran, who has called on Trump to intervene. Trump was asked if he'd meet with the crown prince by a conservative radio host, Hugh Hewitt. But Trump said it would not be appropriate right now to do that.
SUMMERS: Greg, if we can, let's just take a step back here and talk about how Iran's leadership has become so vulnerable.
MYRE: Yeah. Iran has really suffered this series of major setbacks in the past two years. First, among its proxy network in the region and now at home. It really starts, Juana, with the Hamas attack in Israel in October of 2023. Israel's harsh response decimated Hamas, which has been supported by Iran. And a year later, the fall of 2024, Israel delivered another powerful blow, this time to Hezbollah in Lebanon, which Iran also backs. Right after that, Syria dictator Bashar al-Assad fled, removing another ally. Iran invested billions and used these groups to project power in the region. Suddenly, they're all gone or badly weakened. And then Israel and the U.S. teamed up and bombed Iran last June. They hit the nuclear facilities, but they also exposed the weakness of Iran's defenses. And now we're seeing these mass protests challenging the regime.
SUMMERS: And Greg, what options does the Iranian leadership have at this point?
MYRE: Well, they're limited and they're not good ones. The traditional playbook is to unleash the Revolutionary Guards to crush the protests. That worked previously. It may work again, but then it doesn't address the fundamental grievances on living standards, and that will keep eroding any support the regime might have left. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ala Khamenei (ph) is 86. He's been in power 37 years. He's been good at holding power, but he's failed to meet the day-to-day needs of Iranians.
SUMMERS: NPR's Greg Myre and Franco Ordoñez, thanks to both of you.
MYRE: Sure thing, Juana.
ORDOÑEZ: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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