Former US President Donald Trump has issued a stark message of support to protesters in Iran, telling them to "KEEP PROTESTING" and that "help is on its way". The intervention comes amid a severe and deadly nationwide crackdown by the Iranian regime.
Trump's Warning and Economic Measures
In a significant escalation of rhetoric, Trump warned of "very strong action" should Iranian authorities carry out executions of demonstrators. He has cancelled all planned meetings with Iranian officials.
On the economic front, the former president announced a 25 percent tariff on Iran's trading partners. This proposal is currently awaiting approval from the Supreme Court, highlighting the complex domestic process behind such international punitive measures.
A Nation in Turmoil: The Scale of the Crackdown
The situation within Iran remains dire. Human rights groups monitoring the unrest report that at least 2,000 people have been killed and thousands more arrested since the protests began.
A near-total media blackout has been enforced by the authorities, making independent verification of events extremely difficult. The protests, which were initially sparked by a spiralling economic crisis, have evolved into broader calls for the complete overthrow of the country's authoritarian clerical rulers.
International Reactions and a Looming Execution
The international community has reacted with growing alarm. The case of one protester, Erfan Soltani Global responses have been mixed. Russia has condemned US involvement in the crisis, framing it as external interference. Meanwhile, the German Chancellor has suggested the current regime's "final days" could be approaching, signalling a starkly different Western perspective on the unfolding events. The regime in Tehran has a long history of violently suppressing dissent, but the current wave of protests and the harsh response to it mark one of the most significant challenges to its authority in recent years.
