As the casualty count climbed, U.S. President Donald Trump voiced support for the demonstrators on social media, urging them to “keep protesting” and “take over your institutions.” He wrote that he had halted all meetings with Iranian officials “until the senseless killing of protesters stops” and added that unspecified “help is on its way.” Questioned later by reporters, Trump declined to elaborate.
Trump also said it would be “a good idea” for U.S. citizens to leave Iran. The State Department has instructed Americans to depart the country, echoing the president’s remarks. Separately, a U.S. official confirmed that some American personnel were advised to leave al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar by Wednesday evening amid heightened regional tensions. Qatar’s International Media Office acknowledged the departures, describing them as “precautionary measures.”
On Monday the president announced a 25 percent tariff on any nation conducting business with Iran. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said additional steps remain under discussion, and a U.S. official told ABC News that new sanctions targeting senior Iranian figures or the country’s energy and banking sectors are among the options.
National security deliberations continued in Washington this week. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Tuesday morning to examine next moves, according to the White House. Vice President JD Vance later chaired a principals committee session of the National Security Council focused on Iran strategy.
Iranian officials have warned of retaliatory strikes against U.S. and Israeli interests if foreign forces intervene. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has characterized the unrest as the work of “rioters” backed by outside powers, and the head of the judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, said Wednesday that trials and executions of detainees would be expedited to deter further protests.
Imagem: Internet
President Masoud Pezeshkian told Economy Ministry officials that better economic conditions might have prevented the demonstrations, state media reported. Nevertheless, authorities have maintained a heavy security posture in major cities while restricting online communication.
Dissident voices abroad continue to urge sustained pressure on Tehran. Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has repeatedly called on the Iranian military to side with protesters, stating that service members are “the national military of Iran, not the military of the Islamic Republic.”
The U.S. government has encouraged Americans in the region to review the latest travel guidance. Current advice can be found on the U.S. Department of State travel advisory website.
With demonstrations entering a third week, both the death toll and the political stakes continue to rise, leaving Iran’s government and its foreign adversaries weighing next steps amid an increasingly volatile landscape.
Crédito da imagem: UGC/AFP via Getty Images
