In a significant escalation of tensions with Tehran, former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a forceful call for continued protests in Iran while implementing substantial economic measures against the Islamic Republic. Through his Truth Social platform, Trump directly addressed Iranian citizens with the message: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!… HELP IS ON ITS WAY.” He simultaneously declared the cancellation of all meetings with Iranian officials until what he termed the “senseless killing” of protesters ceases.
The political turmoil in Iran represents the most substantial internal challenge to the country’s clerical leadership in at least three years. The protests, initially sparked by severe economic conditions, have persisted for two weeks amid a harsh government crackdown. For the first time, Iranian authorities have acknowledged the substantial human cost of the unrest, with an unnamed official telling Reuters that approximately 2,000 people have been killed during the demonstrations.
Trump’s economic offensive includes imposing 25% import tariffs on products from any nation conducting business with Iran, a significant measure given Iran’s status as a major oil exporter. The former president has also suggested that military action remains among the options he is considering to punish Iran for its handling of the protests, stating earlier this month that “we are locked and loaded.”
International reactions have been sharply divided. China immediately criticized the tariff announcement, while Russia condemned what it described as “subversive external interference” in Iran’s internal politics. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement warning that “those who plan to use externally inspired unrest as a pretext for repeating the aggression against Iran committed in June 2025 must be aware of the disastrous consequences of such actions.”
Despite the scale of the protests and Iran’s considerable economic challenges, there are no visible signs of fracture within the country’s security elite that might threaten the clerical system that has held power since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz offered a starkly different assessment, predicting that “we are now witnessing the final days and weeks of this regime.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi swiftly dismissed these comments, accusing Berlin of double standards and claiming Merz had “obliterated any shred of credibility.”