President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Iranians to keep protesting and “take over” the country’s institutions, saying he has canceled all meetings with Iran’s government until the crackdown on unrest ends.
Trump made the announcement on social media and warned that those responsible for killing anti-regime demonstrators will “pay a big price.” Iran had previously claimed it was in contact with U.S. officials amid the protests.
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price.”
“I have canceled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” he added.
Since the unrest began, Iranian authorities have killed at least 646 protesters, with more deaths expected to be confirmed. Reuters separately reported a death toll of 2,000, citing an unnamed Iranian official.
The White House said Monday that Trump was weighing whether to bomb Iran in response to the crackdown.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that diplomacy remains Trump’s preferred route, but said the president “has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary.”
She added that Trump “certainly doesn’t want to see people being killed in the streets of Tehran,” calling the current violence deeply concerning.
Iranian authorities have used deadly force against anti-regime protesters and have cut off public internet access in an effort to prevent images and video from spreading.
The protests mark the most serious unrest Iran has faced since nationwide demonstrations following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested the Iranian government may be nearing its end.
“I assume that we are now witnessing the final days and weeks of this regime,” he told reporters while in India on Tuesday.
“When a regime can only maintain power through violence, then it is effectively at its end. The population is now rising up against this regime,” he added.
