Tim Pearce

And the number there seems to be more people have been killed during this round of protests than probably any other in recent years.

The U.S.-based human rights activist news agency estimates that 1,800 people have been killed, which already is a huge number, but that's on the low end, actually, of the estimates.

The Saudi-funded outlet Iran International estimates a much higher death toll at around 12,000.

And thousands more Iranians have been arrested, and punishments are already being carried out for those.

Reports say that 26-year-old Irfan Sultani is expected to be hung today after the government found him guilty of, quote, "...waging war on God."

Reports have said that the president has been given a range of options, from military strikes to cyber and psychological attacks.

He's already placed new economic pressures on Iran.

He did that on Monday and said that any nation that conducts business with Iran will be subject to a 25% tariff on all business with the United States.

But the administration has been pretty tight-lipped about what other action the president wants to take.

Now, some have pointed out that the US doesn't actually have an aircraft carrier strike group in the Middle East right now, which would suggest

a military response is less likely.

But Senator Tom Cotton, the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told Hugh Hewitt Monday that the U.S.

military shouldn't be underestimated here.

Cotton also said that the Iranian regime seems weaker now than at any time since it took control in 1979.

And that sentiment has spread.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz the other day actually became the first world leader to predict that the regime will fall soon.

He told reporters, quote, I assume that we are now witnessing the final days and weeks of this regime.

President Trump has been vocal over his desire to bring a quick end to the war in Ukraine, advocating for territorial concessions in a peace plan sent earlier this year.

In a reportedly tense call with European partners earlier this week, Trump urged British, French, and German partners to pressure Ukraine to accept that deal.

For his part, President Zelensky has been unwilling to accept any terms that cede territory to Russia.