“Occupy institutions, help is on the way’ – Trump urges Iranians to continue protests

US President Donald Trump has publicly called on Iranians to continue anti-government protests, urging demonstrators to “occupy the institutions” and stating that help for protesters is “on the way”.

“Iranian patriots, keep protesting – occupy your institutions!!!! … Help is on the way,” Trump wrote on social media, without specifying the nature of the assistance he was referring to.

Trump also said he had canceled all planned meetings with Iranian officials until what he described as the “senseless killing” of protesters comes to an end.

Mass anti-government demonstrations in Iran began on December 28 after the national currency, the Iranian rial, fell to a historic low, triggering rapid price increases and widespread social unrest. What initially started as localised economic protests has since evolved into a nationwide movement against the government, involving students, workers, merchants, and other social groups.

Protests are now taking place in dozens of cities and include not only socio-economic demands but also calls for political change. According to the latest reports, the situation in Iran remains extremely tense.

Casualty figures remain disputed, but deaths during the large-scale protests may have reached as many as 12,000. Iran International reported that over two consecutive nights, on January 8 and 9, security forces of the Ayatollah regime killed at least 12,000 people. According to the outlet’s sources, the killings were carried out on the direct orders of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with the full consent of all branches of government, including the president, after approval by the Supreme National Security Council. Most of those killed were reportedly young people under the age of 30.