US President Donald Trump has suspended all planned engagements with Iranian officials amid escalating nationwide protests in Iran, warning that Washington could resort to military action if the situation worsens.
Trump made the announcement early Tuesday in a strongly worded message on social media, where he voiced support for Iranian protesters and hinted at possible US intervention. He said he had canceled all meetings with Iranian representatives until what he described as the “senseless killing of protesters” comes to an end, adding that “help is on its way.”
The president also revealed that he is holding high-level consultations with key national security officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, and other senior leaders to assess Washington’s options on Iran.
Speaking to reporters, Trump cautioned that the US may act militarily before any renewed diplomatic engagement if developments on the ground continue to deteriorate. “A meeting is being set up,” he said, but warned, “We may have to act before a meeting.”
Protests erupted across Iran on December 28 and have since spread nationwide. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says it has confirmed around 600 deaths linked to the unrest, though other reports suggest the death toll could be significantly higher.
Despite the rising tensions, Trump disclosed that Iranian officials have reached out to his administration to explore negotiations. Iranian authorities have also acknowledged ongoing communication. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that channels remain open between Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, with messages exchanged when necessary.
However, Tehran has issued stern warnings against any US military action. Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Ghalibaf, said on Sunday that an American strike would provoke retaliation, including attacks on US and Israeli military assets.
“If the United States takes military action, both the occupied territories and US military and shipping lanes will be our legitimate targets,” Ghalibaf said, adding that American and Israeli bases could also be hit.
Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, reinforced his warning, saying the US military was reviewing “very strong options.” Responding to Iran’s threats, he said any retaliatory move would be met with overwhelming force, declaring that Iran would be struck “at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”
The developments mark a sharp escalation in rhetoric and raise concerns over the possibility of direct confrontation as protests and diplomatic tensions continue to intensify.
