‘Help is on its way’: Trump urges Iranians to keep protesting, seize institutions |
Appearing to depart from the notion of negotiating with the Iranian government, US President Donald Trump told protesters in Iran on Tuesday that “help is on its way” and urged them to keep protesting and take control of the country’s institutions.
He added that those who have killed protesters would “pay a big price.”
Trump’s remarks, made in a social media post, came after Iranian authorities said some 2,000 people had been killed in the mass demonstrations, though the Mossad was reported to say that the true toll was more than twice as high.
Iranian authorities have now insisted that they have regained control of the country. But Trump urged the protests to continue.
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS.”
“HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” he added.
Two days before publishing that post, Trump had appeared to tack toward negotiations with Iran, saying the regime wanted to talk and that the discussions were “being set up.” Now, the US president was broadcasting ambiguity about what his post means.
“You’re going to have to figure that one out. I’m sorry,” he told reporters on Tuesday in response to a question about the post.
Later, in a speech in Michigan otherwise focused on the economy, Trump essentially repeated the text of the post, telling protesters to “take over your institutions if possible,” reiterating that meetings with Iranian officials had been canceled, and saying again, without elaborating, that “help is on its way.”
“Save the name of the killers and the abusers,” he repeated, “because they’ll pay a very big price.”
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— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47)