US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged protesters in Iran to continue their agitation, claiming that “help is on its way” -without offering any details.In a post on Truth Social, Trump addressed “Iranian patriots”, calling on them to “keep protesting” and “take over your institutions”. He also asked them to document the identities of “killers and abusers”, warning that they would “pay a big price”. Trump further said he had cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials until what he described as the “senseless killing of protesters” stops.
Iran: Death Toll Crosses 2,000
Around 2,000 people have reportedly been killed in protests sweeping Iran, an Iranian official said on Tuesday, in what could be one of the country’s deadliest episodes of unrest in decades. The violence comes amid intensifying anti-government demonstrations across multiple provinces, drawing growing international alarm over the scale of the crackdown.
Despite the turmoil on the ground, Tehran has signalled that lines of communication with Washington remain open. Iran said on Monday that indirect contacts with the United States are continuing, even though the two countries do not maintain formal diplomatic relations. A foreign ministry spokesman told AFP that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi exchanges messages with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff “whenever necessary”. The US has no embassy in Iran; its interests are represented via the Swiss embassy.
The reported death toll has added to global concern, with rights groups warning that the actual number of casualties may be higher than official figures, alongside thousands of arrests during the unrest. International watchdogs have repeatedly expressed concern over internet restrictions, mass detentions and the handling of protesters by security forces.
With demonstrations continuing, Iran is facing a major political test, even as diplomatic messaging between Tehran and Washington continues through backchannels. The developing situation is being closely watched worldwide due to its potential implications for Iran’s internal stability and wider regional tensions.