Trump Urges Iranians To Seize State Institutions and Promises U.S. Support

Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged Iranians to "KEEP PROTESTING" and to "TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS," saying "HELP IS ON ITS WAY."

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9News.au

He said he had canceled meetings with Iranian officials until the "senseless killing of protesters" stops and announced a proposed 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran.

9News.au

He also warned that military options remain under consideration.

Multiple outlets recorded these messages and described mixed signals from the administration.

Republic World reported his Truth Social post and the tariff plan, while WION and Afghanistan International quoted his calls to protesters and the pledge of help.

Newsweek noted his public backing at demonstrations and highlighted concerns about which groups appeared at protests.

These statements intensified international attention as governments, rights groups and media try to verify fast-changing events inside Iran amid communication blackouts.

U.S. officials and media report the White House is weighing a range of responses that span diplomacy, new sanctions and military options, with National Security Council meetings and senior aides preparing options 'from diplomacy to strikes'.

Some coverage uses language suggesting an inclination toward rapid, low-casualty operations.

ABC News

Reporting from ABC News and The Jerusalem Post highlights diplomatic channels and sanctions as viable tools, while outlets such as El Mundo and the Washington Examiner emphasize the inclusion of strikes, cyberattacks or other direct military measures in the options under review.

Journalists also described internal debate and logistical hurdles, including the lack of an immediately positioned carrier near Iran, as reported by El Mundo.

Casualty and detention figures reported in the coverage differ sharply and are often qualified because of the communication blackout and restricted access.

“Both sides are trading accusations and increasingly discussing military options, creating a volatile atmosphere that raises the real risk of further escalation and undermines diplomatic solutions”

Al Jazeera

Rights groups and monitors report a wide range, with Al Jazeera Net and Inbox.lv citing HRANA and Iran Human Rights figures around the 640-650 range by early Jan 12-13.

RNZ, Belaaz and Republic World relay larger, organization-based counts, and Reuters-cited unnamed officials place deaths near 2,000.

Other outlets report still higher or contested figures, with AL-Monitor and CBS reporting lines cited for a possible 12,000+ toll and Haaretz quoting The New York Times sources saying about 3,000 dead.

Many articles explicitly say these numbers are difficult to verify independently because of internet shutdowns and government restrictions.

International reactions and expert commentary range from calls for condemnation and diplomatic protests to warnings against outside interference.

Several Western governments, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy, summoned Iranian ambassadors as formal protests, and France pulled nonessential embassy staff while Israel and some U.S. political figures expressed explicit support for the demonstrators.

Al Jazeera

Opinion outlets such as EL PAÍS and analysts like Vali Nasr warned that outside intervention could backfire by strengthening Tehran's narrative of foreign interference and provoking harsher repression, while other coverage framed Trump's rhetoric as part of a broader U.S. strategy of economic pressure and limited military options.

On-the-ground reports emphasize severe repression, internet shutdowns, detention campaigns and medical evidence of targeted violence, though detail levels vary by outlet.

Al Jazeera Net, NBC News and Belaaz describe near-total internet blackouts that hampered independent verification and note large numbers of arrests and damaged public infrastructure.

Al-Jazeera Net

Haaretz and The Guardian report accounts of security forces deliberately shooting protesters in the head and eyes, causing severe eye injuries.

Other outlets carry Iranian officials' claims that "terrorists" or foreign actors are to blame for many deaths, underscoring how domestic and international narratives diverge amid restricted access to independent confirmation.