UPDATES WITH IRANIAN REACTION, REVISES DECK
By Michael Hernandez and Rania Abushamala
WASHINGTON/ ISTANBUL (AA) – US President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on Iranian anti-government demonstrators to continue protesting across the country, telling them that "help is on its way."
"Iranian Patriots, keep protesting - take over your institutions!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials until the senseless killing of protesters stops. Help is on its way. MIGA!!!"
Trump was using an acronym that is a play on his Make America Great Again slogan, referring instead to Iran.
It is unclear what Trump meant exactly when he said that Iranian officials would "pay a big price," but on Monday, he said the US will impose a 25% tariff on "any and all" countries doing business with Iran.
Also on Monday, the White House said Trump "has an interest" in exploring diplomacy with Tehran, but his post one day later appears to have confirmed that such outreach has been halted.
In response, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani said on the US social media company X: “We declare the names of the main killers of the people of Iran: 1- Trump 2- Netanyahu,” referring to the Israeli prime minister.
Iranian government officials have accused the US and Israel of backing what they describe as “riots” and “terrorism.”
There are no official casualty figures, but the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a US-based rights group, estimates that the death toll has reached more than 2,000, including both security forces and protesters.