Breaking News: Trump tells protesters in Iran ‘help is on its way’
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he has halted any potential talks with Iranian officials amid a violent crackdown on nationwide protests, telling Iranian citizens that “help is on its way.”
Trump did not explain what that assistance would involve. His statement came just days after he said Iran had expressed interest in negotiating with Washington following his warning of possible military action. Human rights groups report that the death toll from the protests has climbed to more than 2,000.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump signaled a sharp shift away from diplomacy with Tehran. “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING — TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” he wrote. “Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
The president has repeatedly warned that the United States could take military action if Iran continues using deadly force against demonstrators. On Sunday, Trump told reporters that Iran was “starting to cross” a red line, prompting him and his national security team to consider “very strong options,” even as he said Iranian officials had been reaching out privately.
As recently as Monday, administration officials suggested diplomacy was still possible.
“What you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “The president is interested in exploring those messages. However, he has also shown he is unafraid to use military options if he deems them necessary.”
Also on Monday, Trump announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on countries that continue doing business with Iran, effective immediately. The White House has not released details. Nations with economic ties to Tehran include China, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Brazil, and Russia.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and senior National Security Council officials began meeting last Friday to outline possible responses for the president, ranging from diplomatic pressure to military strikes.
Iran has warned, through its parliamentary speaker, that U.S. forces and Israel would be considered “legitimate targets” if Washington intervenes.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, more than 600 protests have erupted across all 31 Iranian provinces. The group reports that at least 1,850 protesters and 135 government-affiliated individuals have been killed, with more than 16,700 people detained. Independent verification remains difficult, as Iranian state media has released little information and online videos provide only fragmented views of the unrest.
Trump’s actions on Iran come as he faces multiple foreign policy crises. Just over a week ago, U.S. forces conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and his removal from power, while American military presence in the Caribbean has increased.
The president is also working to advance peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas and to broker an agreement to end the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine. Supporters urging tougher action on Iran argue the current unrest presents an opportunity to weaken the theocratic government that has ruled the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The protests — sparked by the collapse of Iran’s currency — are the largest the country has seen in years and have evolved into a direct challenge to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s rule.
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