President Trump has cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials and told protestors that ‘help is on its way,’ suggesting direct intervention on his latest Truth Social post.
In a significant escalation of ‘maximum pressure’ rhetoric, Trump has shifted from diplomatic sanctions to an overt call for grassroots regime change by urging Iranian citizens to ‘take over’ their institutions.
‘Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price,’ he wrote this morning.
Trump is holding a meeting today with Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine and other top leaders to weigh options for Iran.
Trump has cautioned that military action could come before any diplomatic sit-down if conditions on the ground deteriorate further.
‘A meeting is being set up,’ Trump had told reporters, warning, ‘We may have to act before a meeting.’
Verified video evidence from Sunday shows citizens gathered at the Kahrizak Forensic Centre in Tehran. The footage depicts people standing over long rows of dark body bags.
Since the nationwide demonstrations began on December 28, the US-based human rights organization HRANA reports it has confirmed about 600 fatalities, but according to other reports that number is more likely in the thousands.
Iranian demonstrators gather in a street during a protest over the collapse of the currency’s value, in Tehran, Iran
President Trump told a group of reporters on Air Force One that Iranian diplomats had reached out to the administration to negotiate.
‘The communication channel between our Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and the US special envoy (Steve Witkoff) is open and messages are exchanged whenever necessary,’ Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.
This is a developing story.
