US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday (January 13) that he has canceled all meetings with Iranian officials in response to the ongoing crackdown on protests in the country.
In a post on Truth Social, he addressed Iranian citizens directly: "Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! 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."
While Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran against using deadly force on antigovernment demonstrators, he has not clarified the specifics of his promised “help.”
Earlier this week, he suggested that Iran is seeking negotiations with Washington after his threats of military action. However, his latest statement indicates a shift toward a more hardline stance: canceling talks and emphasizing support for protesters.
US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against using lethal force on protesters, saying Washington would “come to their rescue” if the violence escalates.
“We’re watching it very closely,” Trump said. “If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States.”
Trump had also warned that military action was an option, saying: “We are locked and loaded.”
He has also made clear that military action remains on the table, declaring earlier: “We are locked and loaded.”
Trump’s remarks have gained added significance following the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces. Maduro is a longtime ally of Tehran.
Meanwhile, the White House signaled that diplomacy has not been abandoned. On Monday (January 12), Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said communication channels with Tehran remain open, noting that Iran has adopted a “far different tone” in private discussions with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Nationwide protests triggered by Iran’s worsening economic crisis are posing one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic’s theocratic leadership in years, prompting a deadly crackdown and sweeping internet shutdowns.
The unrest comes as Tehran grapples with the fallout of a brief but intense war with Israel in June, renewed international sanctions, and the weakening of its regional alliances.
Protests began in late December with merchants in Tehran before spreading nationwide and quickly evolving into broader anti-government demonstrations.
Curated by Aisha Patel
