CBS reports that U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed late Monday on a “wide array of military options” regarding Iran, along with potential “cyber and psychological options,” according to sources.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that airstrikes are “one of the many, many options on the table” for President Trump in dealing with Iran, while emphasizing that diplomacy is always the president’s first choice.
A U.S. official tells Al-Jazeera that planning for strikes against Iran has reached “advanced stages,” and that American Forces across the Middle East are prepared for any contingency or retaliation from Iran.
Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst said:
“We were able to connect tonight with a source in Isfahan, Iran, to gather more details. He says demonstrations are ongoing and that live ammunition is being used against protesters. We’ll share updates as more information becomes available.”
Macron said, “I condemn the state violence that indiscriminately targets Iranian women and men who courageously demand respect for their rights. Respect for fundamental freedoms is a universal requirement, and we stand alongside those who defend them.”
i24 reported that China has reduced its use of bots and coordinated messaging to promote anti-Israel narratives, with Beijing appearing to soften its rhetoric as it seeks to position itself between both sides, according to Carice Witte.
An Iranian doctor who has since left the country has provided a harrowing eyewitness account of the extreme violence used during the 2026 protests, describing levels of brutality he said far exceed what has been publicly reported.
“I heard gunfire like nothing before,” the doctor said, recounting the use of DShK heavy machine guns mounted on IRGC pickup trucks moving through the streets of Isfahan. “People saw them clearly—mounted and firing. In Tehran I was confined to the operating room, but in Isfahan on Friday I am certain it was DShK fire.”
He described widespread destruction across cities. “There wasn’t a single traffic light left intact. Not one bus stop still standing.” Government buildings, police stations, and municipal offices were deliberately attacked to cripple state functions. Municipal workers were ordered to clean streets unusually early to conceal the damage. “If you saw it, you’d be shocked,” he said.
According to the doctor, violence intensified after security forces were told they would face no consequences. “They treated it like a war. Suppress by any means.” Residents were warned not to leave their homes. “One official said, ‘Do not come out on Saturday or your life is your responsibility.’ He wasn’t exaggerating.”
Civilians were routinely caught in the violence. “You didn’t have to be protesting to be shot. You could just be walking by.” State television even aired footage of a father mourning his child who was killed in the street.
The weaponry used stunned even experienced medical professionals. “Where in the world is automatic fire permitted in public streets?” the doctor asked. “Even with military training, I know Kalashnikovs aren’t allowed on automatic fire, even at shooting ranges.”
Injuries showed clear intent to kill. “This was brutal—shoot to kill. First shots to the abdomen or chest. Random automatic fire into crowds. This is not police training. It was deliberate.”
Hospitals were overwhelmed. “On Thursday and Friday alone, I received 300 to 500 calls in 24 hours. My phone overheated; I had to recharge it three times.” Fear of surveillance forced people to speak in code. Doctors advised those with pellet wounds not to seek treatment: “Leave them in. They won’t show clearly on X-rays, and airport scanners won’t detect them.”
Victims ranged in age from 16 to 70, most between 18 and 28. One colleague reported that during a single night shift, eight bodies arrived with shotgun pellet wounds to the face. “Faces were unrecognizable. Many bodies couldn’t be identified at all.”
Despite the violence, protesters continued to demonstrate openly. Chants of “Death to Khamenei” rang out. “The courage of these young people was unbelievable,” the doctor said. “Their anger and desperation were so deep they accepted even a ten percent chance of being shot just to end this.”
The doctor described the situation as a regime waging war against its own population, stressing that the scale and severity of the violence far surpass what has been acknowledged publicly.
