US President Donald Trump said early in the day that he is considering a range of responses to the escalating unrest in Iran, including possible military options, as massive protests continue to sweep the country. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One in response to a question on whether Iran had crossed his previously stated 'red line' of killing protesters: 'It looks like they're starting to do that.' However, he added, 'We may have to act before we have a meeting.' Asked whether he would work with Elon Musk's SpaceX, which provides satellite internet (Starlink) service used in Iran, Trump said, 'He's very good at that kind of thing, and he has a very good company.' This came after a rights group warned that Tehran authorities may have carried out 'widescale killings' in protests that have been going on for two weeks, while the Iranian government called for rallies in support of the Islamic Republic on Monday. While Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed the need not to allow 'rioters' to destabilize the country, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his 'shock' at reports of violent suppression of protesters, calling on authorities to exercise restraint. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group said it 'has confirmed the killing of 192 protesters' since the unrest began, but warned that the actual death toll may have already reached hundreds or more. It spoke of 'unconfirmed reports of at least hundreds, and according to some sources, over two thousand, killed', denouncing 'widescale killings' and 'a major international crime against the Iranian people.' He told reporters, 'Iranian leaders contacted us yesterday,' adding, 'A meeting is being prepared... they want to negotiate.' He also said, 'We are taking it very seriously, the army is following it, and we are looking at some very strong options.'
