New york: U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iranians to persist in their protests, as the Iranian government enforces its most extensive crackdown on demonstrations in years. In a message posted on the Truth Social platform, Trump encouraged Iranian nationalists to maintain their protests and occupy government buildings, suggesting aid was on its way, though he did not elaborate on what form this assistance might take. He also announced the cancellation of all meetings with Iranian officials until the violence against protesters ceased and urged Iranians to keep track of those who harmed them, promising they would face consequences.
According to Thai News Agency, when questioned about the specifics of the promised assistance, Trump indicated that it was something the Iranians would need to discern on their own. However, he previously hinted that military intervention was among the options being considered in response to the situation in Iran.
An unnamed Iranian official disclosed that approximately 2,000 people have died during the ongoing unrest, marking the first official death toll figure released by the government. This figure contrasts with reports from other news outlets, such as the UK-based Iran International and the US-based CBS, which suggest that the death toll may exceed 12,000.
The US-based human rights organization HRANA reported that out of the 2,003 confirmed fatalities, 1,850 were protesters. Additionally, they noted that the number of detainees had surged to 16,784, a significant increase compared to earlier in the week.
President Trump commented on the violence, acknowledging that the killings appeared to be severe, though he was uncertain of the full extent. He mentioned that he would receive a report on the situation and decide on further actions accordingly.
In the meantime, the U.S. State Department has advised American citizens to depart Iran immediately, suggesting land routes through Trkiye or Armenia as possible exit paths.
Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Said Iravani, responded to Trump's social media remarks, accusing the U.S. president of inciting violence and threatening Iran's sovereignty and security. Iravani also addressed a letter to the UN Security Council, asserting that the U.S. and Israel bore direct and legal responsibility for the loss of civilian lives, particularly among the youth.