Iran judiciary chief calls for swift executions

The same day Trump spoke, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, Iran’s judiciary chief, said in a video shared by Iranian state television that the government must act swiftly to punish those detained.

“If we want to do a job, we should do it now. If we want to do something, we have to do it quickly,” Mohseni-Ejei said. “If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect. If we want to do something, we have to do that fast.”

Mohseni-Ejei’s remarks came as a direct response to Trump, who in a CBS interview aired Tuesday had warned Tehran: “If they do such a thing, we will take very strong action.”

When asked Wednesday whether he planned to take action against the Iranian government, Trump said: “We’re going to watch it and see what the process is. But we were given a very good statement by people that are aware of what’s going on.”

U.S. military options, Qatar base

Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and White House National Security Council officials began meeting the previous Friday to develop options for Trump, the Associated Press reported, with the range spanning a diplomatic approach to military strikes.

Some personnel at a key U.S. military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate by Wednesday evening following Trump’s escalated warnings of potential military action over the killing of demonstrators, the AP reported.

Trump said he consulted with his national security team on Tuesday about next steps after telling reporters he believed the killing in Iran was “significant.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard blames U.S. and Israel

Mohammad Pakpour, commander of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, claimed, without providing evidence, that the United States and Israel instigated the protests and were the real killers of protesters and security forces who died in the unrest, according to Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency.

Pakpour added that those countries “will receive the response in the appropriate time.”

Iran’s Islamic Republic also promised a “decisive response” if the United States or Israel intervene in the domestic unrest.