Security forces are seen during a pro-government rally on Monday in Tehran. ajid Saeedi/Getty ImagesSecurity forces are seen during a pro-government rally on Monday in Tehran. ajid Saeedi/Getty ImagesExplainerTrump news at a glance: White House doubles down on threat of ‘lethal force’ against Iran amid unrestTrump also announced a 25% tariff for ‘any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran’ – key US politics stories from 12 JanuaryLast week, as growing protests in Iran were met with violent crackdowns, Donald Trump issued a threat to the country’s leadership: “You’d better not start shooting, because we’ll start shooting too.”This week the White House is doubling down on Trump’s saber-rattling. Speaking to Fox News, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said although diplomacy remained Trump’s “first option”, he was “unafraid to use the lethal force and might of the United States military if and when he deems that necessary”.“Airstrikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the commander-in-chief,” Leavitt continued, adding: “He’s made it quite clear he certainly doesn’t want to see people being killed in the streets of Tehran, and unfortunately, that’s something we’re seeing right now.”In recent weeks, the Iranian regime has confronted its largest protest movement since 2009, which its leadership has sought to downplay, attributing the unrest to “American-Zionist terrorism”. Trump official says military force is an option for Iran as president announces tariffsPointing to last year’s US strikes on Iran’s three major nuclear sites – which subsequent satellite imagery suggested caused more limited damage than Trump had claimed – White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt said of Trump’s potential use of US military force: “Nobody knows that better than Iran.”Following Leavitt’s comments on Monday afternoon, Trump announced on Truth Social: “Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America.”Read the full storyEx-Fed chairs condemn Trump’s bid to weaken central bankEvery living former head of the Federal Reserve condemned an “unprecedented” attempt by the Trump administration to weaken the central bank’s independence, after the Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into its chair, Jerome Powell. Ex-Fed chairs Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen warned similar prosecutorial attacks in other countries had led to “highly negative consequences” for the cost of living – and argued they had “no place” in the US. Read the full storyMinnesota sues Trump administration to end surge of ICE agents in stateMinnesota attorney general Keith Ellison announced a lawsuit Monday against the federal government, seeking to end the surge of ICE agents in the state.“This is in essence a federal invasion of the Twin Cities, and it must stop,” Ellison said during a press conference, noting the shutdown of schools and the closure of local businesses.
