Donald Trump has issued a major warning to the regime in Iran as it continues to try and quash protesters. In a post shared on Truth Social on Tuesday, the US President urged protesters, who have been taking the streets since late December, to carry on with their protests and “take over institutions”. 

He wrote: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP”

It remains unclear what Mr Trump meant by saying that “help is on its way,” but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters yesterday, January 12, that airstrikes were among the “many, many options” the president was considering, while stressing that diplomacy “was always the first option.”

This comes just a day after President Trump announced countries doing business with Iran will face a 25% tariff on trade they do with America.

“This Order is final and conclusive. Thank you for your attention on this matter.”

His remarks came after reports from rights groups claiming that the Iranian government plans to execute the first protester on Wednesday for his alleged role in the nationwide demonstrations.

Erfan Soltani, a resident of Fardis near Tehran, could be the first person sentenced to death in the ongoing crackdown on protesters, the Norway-based Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights has reported.

The organisation added that Mr Soltani’s family learned of the ruling only on Monday and has been refused information concerning both the charges and the judicial proceedings.

Deadly protests – which have taken place at 585 locations in 186 cities in all of Iran’s 31 provinces – have now entered a third week

Around 2,000 people have been killed in the protests in Iran, an Iranian official tells Reuters news agency.