Trump Urges Iranians to Continue Protests as Death Toll Rises and Tensions Escalate
GeokHub
Dubai / Washington | Jan 13, 2026 — GeokHub U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday publicly urged Iranians to continue nationwide protests against their government, saying that “help is on its way” as Iranian authorities intensified a crackdown on the country’s largest demonstrations in years.
In a message posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump called on Iranians to keep protesting and to document the identities of security forces accused of abuses. He did not specify what form the promised assistance would take.
Trump said he had cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials until what he described as the “senseless killing” of protesters comes to an end. In later remarks, he warned that those responsible for abuses would “pay a very big price.”
Iranian authorities reacted strongly, accusing the U.S. president of encouraging unrest and undermining the country’s sovereignty. Tehran has repeatedly blamed foreign powers, including the United States and Israel, for fueling the demonstrations.
For the first time since the unrest began more than two weeks ago, an Iranian official cited an overall death toll of around 2,000 people. Independent rights groups say a majority of those killed were protesters and report that thousands more have been detained, marking a sharp escalation in arrests.
Asked by reporters what he meant by saying help was on the way, Trump declined to elaborate, saying more information would emerge after he reviewed updated intelligence. He added that military action remains among the options under consideration.
The U.S. State Department has meanwhile urged American citizens to leave Iran immediately, including via land routes through neighboring countries, citing deteriorating security conditions.
Iran Pushes Back, Global Tensions Rise
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations warned that Trump’s statements amounted to incitement and threatened regional stability. In a letter to the U.N. Security Council, Tehran accused Washington and Israel of bearing responsibility for civilian casualties.
Russia also weighed in, condemning what it described as external interference in Iran’s internal affairs and warning that any further escalation could have serious consequences for Middle East security.
Despite the unrest, Iranian officials say there are no signs of division within the country’s security leadership, even as protests that began over economic hardship have evolved into broader calls for political change.
European leaders, including officials from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, have summoned Iranian ambassadors to protest the crackdown. Some European officials have openly questioned whether Iran’s leadership can maintain power if violence continues.
