US President Donald Trump on Tuesday encouraged Iranians to continue nationwide protests and seize control of the country’s institutions.
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He added, “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 did not clarify what form the promised “help” would take. The message appeared to support regime change in Iran, signaling a shift in the US stance from the previous day.
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had stated that a diplomatic channel with Tehran remained open, noting that Iran had adopted a “far different tone” in private discussions with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. On the same day, Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on any country doing business with Iran.
In response, Russia condemned what it described as “subversive external interference” in Iran’s internal affairs and called US threats of new military strikes “categorically unacceptable.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry warned, “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 such actions would have for the Middle East and global security.”
