US President Donald Trump has urged Iranian protesters to persist in their demonstrations, assuring them that "help is on its way" amid escalating unrest across the Islamic Republic.

In a post on Truth Social dated 13 January 2026, Trump declared, "Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!

Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price." He added that he had cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials until the "senseless killing of protesters" ceases, signing off with "MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP."

Trump's intervention follows weeks of nationwide protests in Iran, which erupted in late December 2025 and have since intensified, posing a severe challenge to the clerical regime's stability. Reports indicate heavy casualties, with around 2,000 people killed, according to The Times of Israel citing Reuters and an Iranian official. That source attributed the deaths to "terrorists," encompassing both civilians and security personnel, marking the highest confirmed toll in the ongoing disturbances.

The White House has amplified its rhetoric on the crisis. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt informed journalists that airstrikes feature among "many, many options" under review, though she emphasised diplomacy as the administration's primary approach.

This comes after Trump issued a directive imposing a 25 per cent tariff on any country conducting business with Iran, effective immediately. He described the measure as "final and conclusive," aimed at isolating the regime economically.

Trump has hinted at prior contact with Iranian leaders, telling reporters on 11 January that they "called to negotiate" following a Saturday conversation. Yet he has coupled this with stark threats of intervention, warning on Friday that the US would strike "very hard where it hurts" if the regime resorts to mass killings as in previous crackdowns. He clarified that such action would not involve "boots on the ground."

Iran's response has been defiant. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated on Al Jazeera that Tehran seeks no war but stands "prepared for all options" in light of US threats. The regime has imposed stringent measures to quell the unrest, including a nationwide internet blackout now exceeding 108 hours, as reported by cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks. This has left Iranians cut off from global connectivity and each other.

Iran's National Centre for Cyberspace president, Mohammad Amin Aqamiri, justified the shutdown as essential to combat "cognitive warfare" by adversaries. He noted that the domestic National Information Network (NIN) has been bolstered to sustain critical services. State broadcaster Press TV relayed that global internet access will remain curtailed until security is fully restored, with normalcy to be announced later.

International reactions remain polarised. Some governments decry the protests as foreign-instigated riots, while others condemn Iran's violent suppression. The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, expressed horror at the brutality, demanding an end to the killing of peaceful demonstrators.

He denounced the labelling of protesters as "terrorists" to legitimise force and criticised the use of "brutal force" against legitimate calls for change.

Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has seized the moment to press for swift US action. In a CBS News interview on 12 January, he implored Trump to intervene "sooner rather than later" to topple the clerical leadership. Pahlavi argued that prompt measures would minimise further deaths and hasten the regime's collapse, addressing Iran's broader woes.

These developments unfold against a backdrop of Trump's broader Iran policy, blending economic pressure, military posturing, and encouragement of internal dissent. The protests have exposed deep fissures within Iran, threatening its institutional foundations.

As Trump withholds specifics on the promised "help," global observers watch closely for signs of escalation, with diplomacy hanging precariously amid tariff threats and airstrike considerations.

Based On ANI Report