Amid intensifying anti-government protests in Iran, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States is ready to help the Iranian people seek freedom from the government led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran was “looking at freedom, perhaps like never before,” adding that the US stood ready to assist those challenging the clerical leadership.
Trump has repeatedly voiced support for protesters in Iran. In another Truth Social post, he said, “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”
The remarks come as reports suggest the Trump administration is discussing preliminary contingency plans in response to escalating tensions with Tehran. According to The New York Post, citing The Wall Street Journal, US officials are weighing possible responses to Trump’s recent warnings, including the option of a large-scale airstrike campaign targeting multiple Iranian military sites.
Officials stressed that no final decision has been made. No US military personnel or equipment have been moved, and sources said such planning is routine and does not indicate imminent action.
Earlier, he warned that Iran could face serious consequences if security forces respond violently to demonstrations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that stance, saying the United States supports “the brave people of Iran.”
The unrest, driven largely by worsening economic conditions, has entered its second week and turned deadly. According to a US-based human rights group, at least 78 protesters have been killed and more than 2,600 people arrested, with demonstrations reported in over 180 cities across all of Iran’s provinces.
As the situation deteriorates, several major international airlines, including Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, flydubai, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, AJet and Austrian Airlines, have suspended flights to and from Iran, citing safety concerns linked to the unrest.
US political leaders have publicly praised the protesters. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham wrote on X, “Another great day with @POTUS who has brought America back, stronger than ever, at home and abroad. God bless our Commander in Chief and all of the brave men and women who serve under him. I’m proud to be an American. God bless and protect the brave people of Iran who are standing up to tyranny.”
US House Representative Claudia Tenney described the demonstrations as a moral struggle, writing, “Please join me in prayer for the courageous men and women in Iran standing up to a violent regime at tremendous personal sacrifice.”
She added, “Families are losing sons & daughters for protesting peacefully against a brutal dictator. This is a noble fight for human dignity. Silence only empowers their killers.”
Inside Iran, protesters and medical workers have described chaotic conditions. A doctor told CNN that hospitals are “extremely chaotic,” with patients terrified of being identified amid an intensifying crackdown. Demonstrators also reported brutal violence and bodies “piled up on each other” inside hospital facilities.
An internet blackout imposed by Iranian authorities remains in place, although residents say it has failed to stop the protests. One Tehran resident told CNN the shutdown has not quelled public anger.
Iran’s leadership has blamed foreign interference for the unrest. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the United States of inciting the protests.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad issued a warning on January 10, saying anyone participating in protests, or even assisting demonstrators, would be treated as an “enemy of God,” a charge that carries the death penalty.
“Prosecutors must carefully and without delay, by issuing indictments, prepare the grounds for the trial and decisive confrontation,” Azad said on state television. “Proceedings must be conducted without leniency, compassion or indulgence.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also declared that safeguarding security was a “red line,” vowing to protect public property as authorities step up efforts to suppress what has become the most widespread unrest in years.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
Find the best of Al News in one place, specially curated for you every weekend.
Stay on top of the latest tech trends and biggest startup news.
