Donald Trump said on Saturday night that he was ready to help Iranians protesting against the regime, as discussions reportedly began within his circle over possible military options against the country.
For the past two weeks, Iran’s streets have been gripped by unrest as nationwide protests entered their 14th consecutive night. Demonstrators have called for an end to clerical rule despite a heavy security crackdown that activists say has left hundreds dead. Witnesses and medical sources describe overwhelmed hospitals, overcrowded morgues, and security forces allegedly targeting protesters’ eyes—a tactic documented during previous uprisings. Amid the unrest, the former US president has escalated his rhetoric, warning that Iran is in “big trouble” and declaring the United States “ready to help,” fuelling speculation about potential military action.
The protests began on December 28 over rising prices but quickly evolved into broader calls for regime change, spreading to more than 340 locations across the Islamic Republic. Despite a nationwide internet blackout and curfew measures, crowds gathered in Tehran and other cities on Saturday night. Verified footage showed demonstrators burning police booths, blocking major roads, and chanting “death to the dictator,” a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In videos circulated online, protesters could be heard shouting: “Until the mullahs are gone, this homeland will not be free.”
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According to the Telegraph, protesters reported seeing “hundreds dead” in the streets, with security forces, now reportedly led by the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—using live ammunition. Iranian authorities have placed security forces on high alert amid concerns over potential defections within the police and army. Among the confirmed dead are 17-year-old Mobin Yaghoubzadeh and 40-year-old Akram Pirgazi, who were killed during clashes in northern and eastern Iran. Independent estimates suggest more than 200 fatalities, while Time Magazine cited sources claiming that 217 people were killed in six Tehran hospitals alone by live rounds. These figures could not be independently verified.
The report also noted allegations that the IRGC has deliberately targeted protesters’ eyes, a tactic previously documented during the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, which left hundreds blinded. Hospitals have reportedly become sites of arrest, with wounded protesters detained during treatment. Despite the crackdown, demonstrators continue to resist. “We saw hundreds of bodies, but we won’t stop,” one protester told The Guardian.
International tensions have risen alongside the unrest. Posting on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump wrote: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” A day earlier, he said Iran was in “big trouble” and appeared to hint at military action. He also echoed calls by Senator Lindsey Graham for strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Speculation intensified after flight-tracking data showed two US Air Force C-17A aircraft travelling from Germany to the Middle East. According to The Wall Street Journal, US officials have discussed possible strikes on IRGC weapons depots, while former Pentagon officials have suggested covert CIA operations or support for Israeli action aimed at isolating hardliners rather than launching large-scale attacks.
The Telegraph reported that a former Pentagon official said Trump could authorise covert CIA operations to destabilise Tehran or give Israel approval to carry out its own strikes against the regime.
Exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, has urged protesters to seize control of city centres. As the crisis deepens, international attention remains fixed on Iran, with concerns growing that external intervention could further escalate the conflict.
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