Trump tells Iranians to keep protesting, says 'help is on its way'

January 13, 2026 9:58 AM EST

Cars burn in a street during a protest over the collapse of the currency's value, in Tehran, Iran, January 8, 2026. Stringer/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo

WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - ⁠President Donald ⁠Trump ‍on Tuesday told Iranians to keep protesting and said help ‍was on the way, but did not ​elaborate on whether that meant possible U.S. action.

"Iranian ​Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!... HELP IS ON ITS WAY," Trump said in a post ​on Truth Social.

He said he had canceled all meetings with Iranian officials ​until the "senseless killing" of protesters stopped.

Trump has previously said military ‌action is among options he is weighing to punish Iran, which is ​seeing its biggest anti-government ⁠protests in years. About 2,000 people including security personnel have ‌been killed in protests in Iran, an Iranian official said on Tuesday.

Late on Monday Trump ‌also announced 25% import tariffs on products from ‌any country doing business with Iran - a major oil exporter.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Al ‍Jazeera on Monday that he had continued to communicate with U.S. ⁠special envoy Steve Witkoff during the protests and Tehran was studying ideas proposed by Washington.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Doina Chiacu)



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