Trump urges Iranian ‘patriots’ to keep protesting, cancels meetings with Khamenei officials ‘Help on its way’
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Tuesday cancelled all the planned meetings with Iranian officials of Khamenei regime over what he called a “senseless killing” of protesters.
Trump made remarks after reports claimed that over 2,000 people have been killed in the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei-led regime’s crackdown on protesters.
He urged the anti-government demonstrators in Iran to keep protesting, Trump said that “help is on its way” and the “killers and abusers” will pay a big price.
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! 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 said.
The death toll is much higher than what was previously reported by human rights agencies.
An Iranian official confirmed the death toll while speaking to an international news agency and blamed “terrorists” for the deaths.
Human Rights Activists News Agency claimed that at least 646 people were killed until Monday.
HRANA said in addition to this, 579 others were also feared dead, but this remained under review.
Iran has been facing one of its biggest anti-government protests since December 28.
The protests were initially triggered by falling Iranian currency and rising inflation, but soon turned into a massive uprising against the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei-led regime.
The United States has warned Iran that it will intervene if the protesters are killed. US President Trump on Sunday said that he is considering “some very strong options”.
He also claimed that the Iranian leadership has reached out to him seeking to negotiate and that a meeting is being set up. However, he added that the US may have to act before a meeting.
