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- By Supratik Das
- Sun, 11 Jan 2026 10:02 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
As nationwide protests continue to rock Iran, US President Donald Trump has said that the United States is “ready to help” the Iranian people achieve freedom, amid reports of an intensifying crackdown by authorities that has pushed the death toll past 116.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran was “looking at freedom, perhaps like never before,” adding that the US stood prepared to support the Iranian people as demonstrations spread across several cities. His remarks come as Iran’s leadership issues harsh warnings, including the possible use of the death penalty against protesters.
Protests Turn Deadly Across Iran
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 116 people have been killed since protests began in late December, while more than 2,600 have been detained. Iranian authorities, however, have acknowledged fewer deaths. The unrest initially erupted over economic hardship and soaring inflation but quickly evolved into widespread anti-government demonstrations, with protesters openly calling for an end to clerical rule.
Security forces have tightened their response, deploying heavily in major cities and enforcing internet blackouts that have made it difficult to verify the scale of violence on the ground. Activists fear the actual casualty figure could be significantly higher.
Trump Warns Tehran, Signals Possible Action
Earlier, Trump has issued strong warnings to Tehran against using force on demonstrators. “You better not start shooting,” he said earlier, cautioning that the US would respond if Iranian authorities continued to kill protesters. According to the US media reports, the Trump administration is drawing up preliminary contingency plans, including options for airstrikes on Iranian military targets, though officials stress no final decision has been taken.
On the other hand, Iran’s attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, has warned that anyone participating in or assisting protests will be treated as an “enemy of God,” a charge under Iranian law that can carry the death penalty. State media said prosecutors had been instructed to act swiftly and without leniency against those accused of destabilising the country. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the United States of instigating unrest and claimed protesters were acting to please Washington. He also criticised Trump personally, alleging the US president had “hands stained with the blood of Iranians.”
The developments have triggered concern among international observers, with human rights groups calling for restraint and accountability. Exiled Iranian opposition figures, including former crown prince Reza Pahlavi, have urged protesters to sustain demonstrations and called on the international community, including the US, to intervene diplomatically. As Iran enters a third week of unrest, the situation remains volatile, with tensions rising between Tehran and Washington and fears mounting over a wider regional fallout.