In a new escalation of the US stance toward the events unfolding in Tehran, US President Donald Trump a direct and encouraging message to Iranian protesters, asserting that "help is on its way." Trump urged the protesters to persevere and continue their popular movement until their demands are met and the current authorities are overthrown, amid human rights reports indicating a bloody crackdown that may have claimed thousands of lives.
Political support and immediate economic sanctions
Through his platform, Truth Social, Trump the Iranian people, saying, "Iranian patriots, continue to protest, take control of your institutions." The US president did not stop at verbal support; he announced practical steps to pressure the regime in Tehran, revealing the cancellation of all scheduled meetings with Iranian officials as a punitive measure until what he described as the "senseless killing of protesters" ceases.
In a move to tighten the economic noose, Trump announced harsh tariffs targeting Iran's trading partners, imposing a 25% duty effective immediately. This step aims to sever the Iranian regime's economic lifeline and prevent any circumvention of international sanctions, reflecting the "maximum pressure" strategy long brandished by the US administration.
Brandishing the military option and cautious diplomacy
On the military front, the White House did not rule out the use of force, confirming on Monday that the possibility of airstrikes to end the crackdown remained on the table. Despite this explicit threat of military intervention, repeatedly voiced by Trump in response to the killing of protesters, the US administration stressed that diplomacy remained the "first choice" for addressing the crisis, attempting to balance military deterrence with political solutions.
Shocking figures for victims of repression
On the ground, the Norway-based organization Iran Human Rights horrific statistics, documenting the deaths of 734 people during the protests, including nine minors. The organization's director, Mahmoud Amiri, indicated that these figures are based on information from less than half of the country's provinces, suggesting that the true death toll is likely in the thousands, especially given the estimated 10,000 arrests.
Media blackout and fears of executions
These events coincide with Iran's near-total isolation from the outside world, as the internet remains blocked for the sixth consecutive day, making independent verification of information "extremely difficult." Human rights advocates say this blackout is intended to conceal the scale of the massacres and the use of live ammunition against protesters.
Under these circumstances, which represent the largest protest movement since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, international concerns are growing that the Iranian authorities will resort to summary trials and arbitrary executions to crush the opposition, a tactic strongly warned against by Amnesty International. Although international telephone communications were restored, albeit poorly, on Tuesday, the situation remains unclear and a source of regional and international anxiety.
