by Sharon Rondeau
(Jan. 13, 2026) — At 9:43 a.m. EST Tuesday, President Donald Trump urged Iranians protesting their government since December 28 to “keep protesting” and that “help is on its way.”
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “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. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”
On Monday multiple sources reported Trump would meet with military advisers Tuesday on possible moves to quell the violence.
According to the Associated Press Tuesday, following his Truth Social statement, “…Trump told reporters that his administration was awaiting an accurate report on the number of protesters that had been killed before acting ‘accordingly'” after “confirming” the allegations against the regime.
On Sunday Trump told reporters on Air Force One the regime had asked to “negotiate” given his threats to bring harsh consequences should protesters be harmed.
On Saturday, he observed, “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”
Trump has promised to support those seeking to topple the government which seized control from Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, giving way to the kidnapping of 66 American consulate personnel held for more than a year by an Islamic student group.
CBS reported Tuesday that as many as 12,000 protesters have been killed by the regime, though other sources say the number is approximately 2,000.
According to Fox News’s Trey Yingst Tuesday afternoon, a 26-year-old man arrested by the regime is scheduled to be “executed” publicly on Wednesday, mirroring a report from 7 News Australia.
Iran has been known for its public hangings, and in protests in 2022, at least two citizens suffered that fate.
During the 4:00 p.m. EST hour, popular X Space broadcaster Mario Nawfal led a discussion titled, “TRUMP LIKELY TO STRIKE IRAN.”
Nawfal also cited a report he received from a protest group claiming to have “seized an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters in Kermanshah, western Iran.
Pahlavi’s exiled son, Reza Pahlavi, who many have called upon to return to Iran and launch a new era, told Sean Hannity Monday evening that “The level of massacre has been unbelievable, unfortunately. The regime is showing no pity, using military machinery to shoot protesters to death. Morgues are overfilled, yet these brave kids are still in the streets. The decisive element everyone is waiting for is when the cavalry will arrive, because we can only hold the Alamo for so long. So the timeline is very critical. As the President promised, and part of the reason they are still in the streets fighting, is that they believe this President is committed to doing what he said he would.”
At 6:04 p.m., Fox aired footage of Trump on Tuesday stating if Iran is “hanging” people for participating in the protests, “It’s not going to be good” for the regime.