WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� was consulting with his national security team Tuesday about next steps with Iran as he looked to get a better understanding of the number of Iranian citizens who have been killed and arrested in more than two weeks of unrest throughout the country.
Trump said he believes that the killing is 鈥渟ignificant鈥� and that his administration would 鈥渁ct accordingly.鈥� He added that he believed the Iranian government was 鈥渂adly misbehaving.鈥�
But the president said he has yet to receive a confirmed number of Iranians killed in the protests that began late last month, saying he has heard 鈥渇ive different sets of numbers鈥� about the death toll.
Since the protests began Dec. 28, 16,700 people have been arrested and more than 2,500 have been killed, the vast majority protesters, according to the Human Rights Activists 草莓传媒 Agency. The organization inside Iran that confirms all reported fatalities.
鈥淭he message is they鈥檝e got to show humanity,鈥� Trump said of the Iranian government. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e got a big problem. And I hope they鈥檙e not going to be killing people.鈥�
The comments came after Trump earlier in the day announced he was cutting off the prospect of talks with Iranian officials amid a protest crackdown, telling Iranian citizens 鈥渉elp is on its way.鈥�
Trump did not offer any details about what the help would entail, but his remarks come just two days after the Republican president said with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic.
But Trump appeared to make an abrupt shift about his willingness to engage with the Iranian government.
鈥淚ranian Patriots, keep protesting and take over your institutions if you can,鈥� Trump said in speech Tuesday at in Michigan. 鈥淪ave the names of the killers and abusers that are abusing you. You are being very badly abused.”
Iranian ambassador responds to Trump
Iran’s chief envoy to the United Nations, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, denounced Trump’s latest comments in a letter to U.N. officials as 鈥渋nterventionist rhetoric.鈥�
鈥淭his reckless statement explicitly encourages political destabilization, incites and invites violence and threatens the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran,鈥� Iravani wrote.
Iranian state media has aired at least from protesters, many expressing remorse for their actions, since the , according to a rights group that is tracking the videos.
alleges these confessions, which often include references to Israel or America, are proof of foreign plots Activists say they are coerced confessions, long a staple of Iran鈥檚 hard-line state television, the only broadcaster in the country. And these videos are coming at an unprecedented clip.
Trump, in an exchange with reporters during the factory visit, demurred when asked what kind of help he would provide.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to have to figure that one out,鈥� he said.
The U.S. president has if his administration found the Islamic Republic was using deadly force against antigovernment protesters. Trump on Sunday told reporters he believed Iran is 鈥渟tarting to cross鈥� that line and has left him and his national security team weighing 鈥渧ery strong options鈥� even as he said the Iranians had made outreach efforts to the U.S.
Trump announced Monday he would slap 25% tariffs on countries doing business with Tehran 鈥渆ffective immediately,鈥� but the White House has not provided details on that move. China, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Brazil and Russia are among economies that do business with Tehran.
Administration leaders weigh US options
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and key White House National Security Council officials began meeting Friday to develop options for Trump, ranging from a diplomatic approach to military strikes.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to see people killed and we want to see a little bit of freedom for these people,” Trump said. “These people have been living in hell for a long time.鈥�
Iran, through the country鈥檚 parliamentary speaker, has warned that the U.S. military and Israel would be 鈥渓egitimate targets鈥� if Washington uses force to protect demonstrators.
Trump said he was undeterred by threats of Iranian retaliation.
鈥淚ran said that the last time I blew them up,鈥� said Trump, referring to threats from the government ahead of U.S. military strikes in June on key Iranian nuclear facilities. 鈥淭hey better behave.鈥�
More than have taken place across all of Iran鈥檚 31 provinces, the Human Rights Activists 草莓传媒 Agency reported Tuesday.
Understanding the scale of the protests has been difficult. Iranian state media has provided little information about the demonstrations. Online videos offer only brief, shaky glimpses of people in the streets or the sound of gunfire.
Trump’s push on the Iranian government to end the crackdown comes as he is dealing with a series of other foreign policy emergencies around the globe.
It鈥檚 been more than a week since the U.S. military launched a successful raid and remove him from power. The U.S. continues to mass in the Caribbean Sea.
Trump is also focused on trying to get Israel and Hamas onto the second phase of a peace deal in Gaza and broker an agreement between to end the nearly four-year war in Eastern Europe.
But advocates urging Trump to take strong action against Iran say this moment offers an opportunity to further diminish the theocratic government that鈥檚 ruled the country since .
The demonstrations are the biggest Iran has seen in years 鈥� protests spurred by the collapse of Iranian currency that have morphed into a larger test of supreme leader repressive rule.
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Associated Press reporter Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.
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