What Did Donald Trump Tell Iranian Protesters About Help Being on the Way? | BBC News

TL;DR

Donald Trump told Iranian protesters to keep protesting, take over their institutions, and record the names of killers and abusers, while declaring that help was on the way. He also said meetings with Iranian officials were canceled until the killing stopped, although the form of possible US action remained unknown. Read on for the reported options, risks, protest death toll, and communication blackout.

Transcript

Donald Trump has urged protesters to keep taking to the streets and that his help is on its way. He said he has canled all meetings with Iranian officials. Let me put you put the post from Truth Social onto the screen because he has written Iranian patriots. Keep protesting. Take over your institutions. Save the names of the killers and abusers. Th... Read More

Key Insights

• Trump posted on Truth Social telling 'Iranian patriots' to keep protesting, take over their institutions, and save the names of the killers and abusers, warning that 'they will pay a big price' for the crackdown.
• Trump said he canceled all meetings with Iranian officials until the senseless killing of protesters stops, though correspondent Paul Adams noted it is unclear whether any such meetings were actually scheduled.
• Trump's options for intervention are described as a wide range short of ground troops, including B2 bomber strikes, submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles on specific facilities, cyber attacks, and disinformation campaigns.
• US boots on the ground and hostage-rescue-style raids are seen as far too risky, with correspondents invoking Jimmy Carter's failed 1979 Tehran hostage rescue that had terrible political consequences.
• A human rights organization identified around 650 people killed before the complete internet shutdown, a figure gathered before communication with the outside world was cut off during six further days of crackdown.
• Reports reaching the BBC describe hospitals overwhelmed with injured young men and women and morgues piled with bodies, leading to fears the true number killed and injured may be in many thousands.
• Iranians are communicating and organizing protests secretively through neighborhoods, universities, and Starlink satellite equipment, since internet and phone services have been shut down across the country.
• Protesters span all age groups, religions, and sects, united under the historic lion and sun flag, which one guest described as a symbol of Iran for thousands of years that the Islamic Republic had changed.

Questions & Answers

Q: What did Donald Trump tell Iranian protesters?

Donald Trump urged Iranian protesters to keep protesting, take over their institutions, and save the names of killers and abusers. He said those responsible would pay a big price and declared that help was on the way.

Q: What did Trump mean when he said help is on the way?

The transcript says the meaning was unknown. Correspondent Paul Adams said the statement sounded as though Trump had chosen a course of action, but no specific action was identified.

Q: Why did Trump say he canceled meetings with Iranian officials?

Trump said meetings with Iranian officials were canceled until the senseless killing of protesters stopped. The correspondent noted that it was unclear whether any meetings had actually been scheduled, although Iran had reportedly sought diplomatic dialogue about its nuclear program.

Q: What options for action against Iran were discussed?

The options discussed included B2 bomber strikes, Tomahawk missile strikes from submarines, cyber attacks, and disinformation campaigns. Possible missile targets mentioned included headquarters or barracks used by militia members involved in repressing protests.

Q: Would Trump send US ground forces into Iran?

The correspondent said Trump was not thought to be considering US boots on the ground or a helicopter operation to capture Iran's leader. Such actions were described as far too risky.

Q: How many people were reported killed in the Iranian protests?

A human rights organization had identified around 650 people killed before the complete internet shutdown. Reports from hospitals and morgues created fears that the number of people killed and injured could be in many thousands.

Q: How did people send information during Iran's internet shutdown?

Some people traveled to Iran's border and used SIM cards from neighboring countries to obtain a signal and send messages. A very small group used satellite connections to contact journalists and share reports.

Q: What were hospitals and families reporting during the crackdown?

Messages from small and large hospitals said they were overwhelmed with injured young men and women, while morgues were piled with bodies. The transcript also describes parents lining up at a morgue and forensic facility to identify loved ones and collect bodies.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Definition: Trump's promise that help was on the way did not identify any specific form of US action.

• Who: Donald Trump urged Iranian patriots to keep protesting, take over their institutions, and record the names of killers and abusers.

• When: Trump said meetings with Iranian officials were canceled until the senseless killing of protesters stopped.

• Compare: Discussed options ranged from B2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles to cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns.

• Definition: US boots on the ground and a helicopter operation to capture Iran's leader were described as far too risky.

• Number: A human rights organization identified around 650 people killed before the complete internet shutdown.

• Number: The heavy crackdown continued during six days of internet shutdown and communication cutoff.

• Tool: Some people used neighboring-country SIM cards at the border, while a very small group used satellite connections.

• Who: Hospitals reported injured young men and women, while parents gathered to identify loved ones and collect bodies.

• Number: One guest's mother made contact after the blackout and spoke for around 10 minutes.