US President Donald Trump issued a sharp public message backing protests in Iran, cancelling all meetings with Iranian officials and warning that those responsible for violence against demonstrators would
“pay a big price.” In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Donald Trump urged Iranians to continue protesting and to document alleged abuses by authorities, ahead of a meeting with his national security team to discuss options in Iran.
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price,” he wrote.
Donald Trump said he halted diplomatic engagement with Tehran in response to what he described as the “senseless killing of protesters.”
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“I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS,” the post said, adding, “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
The remarks come amid intensifying unrest across Iran, where nationwide protests over economic hardship have been met with a heavy security crackdown. Iranian authorities blamed the violence on what they describe as rioters and foreign-backed “vandals,” while opposition groups and human rights organisations accused security forces of using lethal force against demonstrators.
An Iranian official told Reuters that about 2,000 people- including members of the security forces- have been killed during the unrest, marking the first time authorities have acknowledged such a high death toll. The official said those he described as “terrorists” were responsible for the deaths of both protesters and security personnel, but did not provide a breakdown.
The protests, now in their third week, represent the most serious internal challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership in at least three years. The unrest has also unfolded amid heightened international pressure following Israeli and US strikes last year.
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Iran’s leadership, in power since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has attempted a dual approach- calling protests over economic conditions legitimate while simultaneously enforcing a sweeping security response. Authorities have accused the US and Israel of fomenting unrest and claim the demonstrations have been hijacked by armed groups.
Human rights organisations have previously reported that hundreds of protesters were killed and thousands arrested. Communications restrictions, including recent internet blackouts, have made independent verification difficult.
