President Donald Trump urged Iranian protesters in a Truth Social post on Tuesday to continue their protests and take control of institutions, adding that U.S. help is “on its way.”
Asked what he meant by “help is on its way,” Trump told reporters he would have to figure that out. He said military action is among the options he is weighing to punish Iran over the crackdown.
In the same post, he added that he had canceled all meetings with Iranian officials until the senseless killing of protesters stops.
Trump’s remarks come two days after he said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington following his threat to strike the Islamic Republic if it starts attacking protesters.
Over the past week, Trump has intensified pressure on Tehran to stop the killings. On Monday, he announced that any country doing business with Iran would face a 25% tariff. The U.S. State Department followed on Tuesday with an alert urging American citizens to leave Iran, including by land through Turkey or Armenia.
An Iranian official said Tuesday that the nationwide demonstrations over rising inflation, which began Dec. 28, have killed about 2,000 people. This is the first time authorities have released an overall death toll for more than two weeks of unrest.
U.S.-based rights group Human Rights Activists News Agency’s verified data shows at least 2,403 protesters killed, including 12 children. The figures also record 18,434 arrests. “Protests have been recorded in 614 gatherings across 187 cities, amid a prolonged nationwide internet blackout,” the agency added.
According to HRANA’s confirmed and verified data, at least 2,403 protesters have been confirmed killed, including 12 children. The verified figures also confirm 18,434 arrests, 1,134 cases of severe injury, and 97 instances of forced confessions being broadcast. Protests have… pic.twitter.com/fhKuZMrTy0
— HRANA English (@HRANA_English) January 13, 2026
Iran International, a London-based Persian-language channel, reported a higher death toll of 12,000, calling it the largest loss of life in Iran’s contemporary history.
