The U.S. President published a message to the protesters in Iran on the social network Truth Social. He urged them to remember the "names of the killers and rapists" and stated that "help is already on the way."
U.S. President Donald Trump urged protesters in Iran to seize government institutions in the country. He made this statement on his social network Truth Social.
"Iranian patriots, keep protesting - seize your government institutions!!! Remember the names of the killers and rapists. They will pay a heavy price. I have canceled all meetings with representatives of the official Iranian authorities until the senseless killings of protesters stop. Help is already on the way," said the head of the White House.
Donald Trump concluded his message with the abbreviation MIGA, which stands for Make Iran great again.
U.S. urged its citizens to leave Iran immediately
Earlier, the United States urged its citizens to leave Iran immediately amid mass protests in the country. American citizens in Iran are expected to face further internet disruptions, so they should consider alternative means of communication, according to a notice on the website of the virtual U.S. embassy in Tehran, published on Tuesday, January 13. Americans were also advised to consider leaving Iran overland through Armenia or Turkey.
Previously, U.S. President Trump stated that the U.S. is considering several "very tough" options regarding Tehran due to the suppression of anti-government protests in the country. According to The New York Times, military officials presented Trump with several scenarios for striking Iran. Sources told the publication that as of January 10, 2025, the head of the White House had not yet made a final decision.
Protests in Iran have spread to over 60 cities
Anti-government protests in Iran have been ongoing since December 28, 2025. Initially, the residents protested against the financial crisis amid the devaluation of the local currency, but soon the economic demands of the demonstrators shifted to political ones.
The protests have spread to over 60 cities in 25 provinces of the country. The largest demonstrations are taking place in Tehran, as well as in the cities of Malekshahi, Kermanshah, and Lordegan in the west and southwest of Iran. Authorities have begun to suppress the protests, but reliable information about what is happening is lacking - the internet has been down in the country for several days.
According to the Norway-based human rights organization Iran Human Rights (IHR), as of the evening of Monday, January 12, at least 648 people have died during the protests. However, some estimates suggest that the number of fatalities could be in the thousands.
