President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that he had terminated talks with Iranian representatives in light of the ongoing protests and subsequent crackdown by the Iranian regime. Utilizing his social media platform Truth Social, Trump directly addressed Iranian citizens, encouraging them to maintain their protests and seize control of governmental institutions. He cautioned that individuals responsible for violence against demonstrators would face consequences and affirmed that "help is on its way," though he did not specify the nature of this assistance.
Earlier in the week, Trump acknowledged reports that Iran sought dialogue with Washington following his public warnings of potential strikes against the Islamic Republic. Human rights organizations attribute more than 2,000 deaths to Iranian government actions amid these antigovernment protests. Despite these developing diplomatic overtures, the president's latest statements suggest a clear pivot toward a tougher stance.
In a detailed message posted Tuesday morning, Trump urged, "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." This marked a distinct withdrawal from prior indications of openness to negotiations.
The U.S. administration has repeatedly warned Tehran against employing lethal force against demonstrators, with the president explicitly threatening military retaliation should the Islamic Republic continue its repressive measures. On Sunday, Trump expressed concern that Iran was "starting to cross" critical boundaries, prompting him and his national security advisers to consider "very strong options." Concurrently, he noted reports of Iranian attempts to make contact with the United States.
While there was some cautious optimism conveyed by White House representatives on Monday regarding possible dialogue, the administration remained guarded in its approach. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the contrast between Iran's public declarations and private communications, stating, "What you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately, and I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages." Nevertheless, she underscored Trump's readiness to deploy military options if necessary, a position well understood by Iran.
Also reported Monday was Trump's announcement of immediate 25% tariffs targeting nations trading with Tehran. However, the White House has yet to elaborate on the specifics of this policy. Countries known to maintain commercial relations with Iran include China, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Brazil, and Russia.
In preparation for various possible outcomes, key figures including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and senior members of the National Security Council initiated meetings last Friday. These sessions are focused on formulating a comprehensive set of options for the administration, ranging from diplomatic negotiations to potential military strikes.