Backing anti-regime protests in Iran, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday called of talks with Tehran and urged Iranians to continue their protest.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump assured the protesters that help is on its way and urged them to "take over institutions".
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"Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price," he wrote on the social media platform.
Amid the "senseless killing of protesters", Trump said he has called of diplomatic engagement with the Islamic regime. "I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS." Then he added, “HELP IS ON ITS WAY."
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Al Jazeera that he spoke with US special envoy Steve Witkoff during the protests and Tehran was studying ideas proposed by Washington.
This comes as an Iranian official requesting anonymity told Reuters that 2,000 people have died in the violence, including protesters and security personnel.
However, a detailed report by Iran International's editorial board based on official sources and on-ground testimonies put the death toll at 12,000. Most of these death occurred on January 8 and 9. The report blamed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its paramilitary volunteer militia Basij for the killings. Most of these victims were below the age of 30.