Trump says that “help is on its way” and exhorts Iranians to continue their protests.

DUBAI (Reuters) — As Iran’s religious establishment pushed its assault on the largest rallies in years, US President Donald Trump urged Iranians to continue demonstrating and suggested help was on the way, but did not provide any details.

“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING AND TAKEOVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!”… HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” Trump said on Truth Social, adding that he had canceled all talks with Iranian officials until the “senseless killing” of demonstrators ended.

The upheaval, driven by poor economic conditions, has posed the most serious internal threat to Iran’s religious leadership in at least three years, and it has occurred at a time of increased international pressure following Israeli and US strikes last year.

An Iranian official stated earlier on Tuesday that over 2,000 people had been murdered in the protests, marking the first time authorities had recognized the high death toll after an intensive crackdown on two weeks of widespread unrest.

Speaking to Reuters, the Iranian official claimed that persons he identified as terrorists were responsible for the deaths of both protestors and security forces. The official, who declined to be identified, did not provide a breakdown of who was slain.

On Monday evening, Trump slapped 25% import duties on anything from any nation that does business with Iran, a major oil supplier. Trump has also stated that further military action is one option he is considering to punish Iran for the crackdown, stating earlier this month that “we are locked and loaded”.

Tehran has yet to reply officially to Trump’s tariff proposal, but China has already blasted it. Iran, which is already subject to stringent US sanctions, sends the majority of its oil to China, with Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and India serving as its other major trade partners.