Trump urges on protesters in Iran as crackdown death toll surges
As Tehran accuses the US of inciting violence, Trump warns of ‘very strong action’ if Iran hangs protesters
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Iranians to keep protesting and remember the names of those abusing them, saying help is on the way, as Iran’s clerical establishment pressed its crackdown against the biggest demonstrations in years.
Iran in turn accused Trump of encouraging political destabilisation and inciting violence.
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! … HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social, without saying what that help might be. He said he had cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials until the “senseless killing” of protesters stopped and in a later speech told Iranians to “save the name of the killers and the abusers ... because they’ll pay a very big price”.
An Iranian official said about 2,000 people had been killed, the first time authorities have given an overall death toll from more than two weeks of nationwide unrest.
On Wednesday, the US-based HRANA rights group said it had verified the deaths of 2,571 people, including 2,403 protesters, 147 government-affiliated individuals, 12 people aged under 18 and nine non-protester civilians. More than 18,100 people have been detained, the group said.