As the streets of Iran are in turmoil, Washington is warning of "strong action." President Donald Trump's remarks hint at a range of options, from military strikes to cyberwarfare.

In such a situation, the question arises as to what Trump can actually do in the ongoing crisis in Iran, and how profound the impact of those actions could be in the Middle East.

In this new context, Iran's internal crisis is no longer just an internal matter. Comments and hints of possible action from the United States to suppress the protests are further complicating the situation.

The American president has warned of a "strong response" to Iran's actions to suppress the protests.

"We're looking at it very seriously. The military is looking at it and we're thinking about strong action," Trump told reporters on Air Force One Sunday night.

He claims that Iranian leaders are willing to sit down for talks after receiving threats of military action. The US side is also finalizing the date of the meeting. However, Trump has also 'indicated' that some action may have to be taken before that meeting.

The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency reported that so far protests have spread to 111 cities in 31 provinces of Iran. 538 people have lost their lives in the violence. More than 10,000 people have been arrested.

Iran has warned of a possible US attack in such a situation. The country's Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said, "If Iran is attacked, the occupiers (Israel) and all US bases and ships will become our legitimate targets."

Earlier, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech on Friday, "The Islamic Republic came to power with the blood of hundreds of thousands of martyrs and we will not retreat in the face of protests."

He also accused the US of fomenting protests in Iran. Ali Khamenei also commented that the protesters were "trying to please the US president."

The movement began on December 18th in Iran's Grand Bazaar, led by businessmen, and then spread across the country.

Social media is now flooded with photos and videos of the movement. Protesters have been seen chanting slogans demanding the fall of the government in many places, including the city of Qazvin, northwest of Tehran, the Shiite holy city of Mashhad, the western city of Aligudarj, and the city of Abadan, near the Iraqi border.

'Death to the dictator', 'Cannons, tanks, fireworks! Farewell mullahs', 'Long live the people's uprising' are not just slogans, but the sound of gunfire has also become a regular occurrence in various cities including Tehran. Clashes between protesters and security forces are becoming increasingly intense.

According to Iranian state media, 108 members of the security forces have been killed in the protests. The internet has been shut down for more than seventy-two hours.

As unrest in Iran rages, Trump is engaged in a repressive foreign policy. He has violated Venezuelan sovereignty by installing President Nicolas Maduro. He has also threatened to seize Greenland.

In such a situation, the question has arisen as to how Trump will deal with the enemy country Iran. Trump is scheduled to hold a meeting with his senior advisors on Tuesday to discuss this.

However, in a post on Truth Social, Trump had previously said that if the Iranian government killed protesters, he would "rescue" them.

"Iran wants 'freedom' now. It's never been like this before. And America stands ready to help," the US president wrote in the post.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is considering military strikes, cyberweapons and new sanctions on Iran, as well as providing online support to anti-government protesters.

US influence
Even though the issue of a direct attack has now come up, analysts believe that the United States already had influence in creating this situation in Iran.

"Tehran was in a difficult situation after the US withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran in 2018. Their economy was crippled and corruption was rampant. It benefited a very small group," Barbara Slavin, a lecturer in international relations at George Washington University, told Al Jazeera.

Since October 2023, Iran's regional allies have also been crumbling under Western pressure, and after the joint attack by Israel and the United States last year, all roads to Iran have been closed, he commented.

Israel on high alert
According to a Reuters report, America's ally Israel is on high alert over possible US intervention in the country amid ongoing anti-government protests in Iran.

The British news agency reported that at least three sources who attended the country's security meeting confirmed the matter. However, the sources did not elaborate on exactly what was meant by "maximum alert".

Israel and Iran had previously engaged in a war in June last year after issuing such a warning. The war lasted for 12 days, causing casualties and damage on both sides. The United States also joined Israel in the attack, carrying out airstrikes on the country's nuclear facilities.

Despite recent discussions with the United States, Israel has not yet shown any signs of direct intervention in Iran.

However, tensions remain between the two arch-enemies due to concerns over Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

In an interview with The Economist last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that an Iranian attack on Israel would have "terrible consequences."

Netanyahu also said that they are keeping an eye on the ongoing mass protests in Iran.

Elon Musk is involved
Trump said on Sunday that he plans to talk to Starlink founder and US billionaire Elon Musk about restoring internet access to Iran. He said, "He's great at this and he has a great company."

However, even before Trump's talks, Musk, the world's richest man, got involved in the conflict. On January 4th, he responded to a post by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Al Khamenei.

Khamenei wrote in his post, “We will not surrender to the enemy.”

In response, Musk said in a post, "False illusion." Musk then posted an emoji of the old Iranian flag from before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

On Saturday, the social media platform he owns, X, changed the Iranian flag emoji, and the country's current flag is no longer in the emoji options!

The Iranian flag featured a sun and a lion until 1979. This flag has been seen in the hands of protesters in several places during the current protests that have spread across Iran.

And that's why discussions have started surrounding Elon Musk's move. Analysts believe that it will also have an impact on the streets of Iran.

Earlier, during the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022 and the 12-day war last year, Elon Musk provided internet service through Starlink. However, Iran has also tried to jam that signal.

“The government is cutting off protesters’ communication channels through internet outages and shutdowns and trying to prevent news from reaching all areas,” said Neger Mortazavi, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy.

"But when the internet comes back, it starts again. But the movement slows down. That's the real value of the shutdown," he told Al Jazeera.

What message does the flag change convey?
According to Reza Akbari, an Iran analyst at the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, the pre-1979 flag has always been influential. It has become a symbol of dissent, especially inside and outside the country.

"The meaning of the flag may be different for each person. But the opposition has always considered it a symbol of the Shah family, which fell in 1979," he told Al Jazeera.