Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iranians to continue their anti-government protests, promising that “help is on its way,” while warning officials responsible for violence against demonstrators that they would “pay a big price.”
“Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” Trump said, without specifying what form the promised assistance would take.
The message appeared to signal support for regime change in Iran, marking a shift from the U.S. stance a day earlier.
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had said that a diplomatic channel with Tehran remained open, stating that Iran was taking “a far different tone” in private discussions with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Trump also announced a 25 percent tariff on any country doing business with Iran.
Meanwhile, Russia on Tuesday condemned what it described as “subversive external interference” in Iran’s internal affairs and said U.S. threats of new military strikes against the country were “categorically unacceptable.”
“Those who plan to use externally inspired unrest as a pretext for repeating the aggression against Iran committed in June 2025 must be aware of the disastrous consequences of such actions for the situation in the Middle East and global international security,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
