Trump Urges Iranians to ‘Take Over Your Institutions’ as Protests Shake Tehran

U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly called on Iranian protesters to intensify their demonstrations, telling them to “KEEP PROTESTING” and to “TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS” as unrest spreads across the country.

In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed support for demonstrators challenging Iran’s clerical leadership and said “help is on its way,” though he did not specify what form that assistance would take. He also announced that the United States had cancelled all planned meetings with Iranian officials until the killing of protesters stops.

Iran has been gripped by widespread anti-government protests triggered by economic hardship and rising living costs, which have since evolved into broader political demonstrations against the ruling system. Human rights groups and international observers say hundreds of people have been killed and thousands detained as security forces move to suppress the unrest, although the full scale of the crackdown remains difficult to verify due to internet restrictions and media controls.

Trump’s remarks mark a sharp escalation in Washington’s rhetoric toward Tehran, shifting from condemnation of the crackdown to openly encouraging regime-challenging actions inside Iran. The statements have drawn anger from Iranian leaders, who have accused the United States of interfering in the country’s internal affairs.

The comments also come as European governments and the United States consider further diplomatic and economic measures against Tehran over its response to the protests, raising fears of a wider regional and international fallout if the crisis continues to deepen.