(Photo source/IANS/Xinhua)
Washington, January 14 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has warned Iran of a “very strong action” if its authorities begin hanging protesters, escalating his rhetoric amid reports of widespread killings during anti-government unrest.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with CBS News on Tuesday, Trump said he had not yet confirmed reports that Iran planned to execute demonstrators but made clear the United States would respond forcefully if such actions occurred.
“I haven’t heard about the hanging,” Trump said. “If they hang ’em, you’re gonna see some things. We will take very strong action.”
Trump was asked about his earlier message posted online, saying “help is on the way” for Iran. He said assistance would come “in different forms”, while stressing that Washington would not provide economic relief to Tehran.
“We’re not gonna help Iran very much,” Trump said, adding that the United States had already neutralised Iran’s nuclear capability.
“We put Iran out of business with their nuclear capacity,” he said, claiming the operation was completed swiftly once US bombers reached their targets.
Pressed on reports that thousands of protesters have been killed, Trump said the numbers remained unclear. “Nobody’s been able to give us accurate numbers,” he said, but added that if confirmed, the deaths would create “a lot of problems for them”.
Asked whether Iran had crossed a US red line, Trump said the situation was still developing but warned that mass killings would not be tolerated.
“The endgame is to win,” he said. “I like winning. And we’re winning.”
Trump compared the Iran situation to past US actions overseas, citing the killing of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, as well as the US policy toward Venezuela.
“We’ve been right about everything,” Trump said, asserting that the US actions had prevented greater instability.
The president also defended his broader foreign policy record, saying he had “ended eight wars” and argued that continued conflicts would have damaged the US economically and strategically.
“You can’t be forgetting about bad threats,” Trump said. “You can’t be forgetting about an Iran with a nuclear weapon.”
Trump said maintaining global peace remained a priority even as he emphasised domestic economic growth, arguing that overseas instability would ultimately harm American interests.
Iran has been facing sustained protests over political repression and economic conditions, with international rights groups reporting mass arrests and killings. The US and Iran have had no formal diplomatic relations for decades, and tensions have repeatedly escalated over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional activities.
Iran calls on UN chief, Security Council to condemn US for inciting violence
Iranian UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani asked the UN secretary-general and the Security Council to condemn the United States for inciting violence and threatening to use force against his country.
In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Somali UN ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman, who serves as the rotating president of the Security Council for January, Iravani accused US President Donald Trump of openly inciting violence in Iran, citing Trump's post on social media platform Truth Social: "Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING -- TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! ... HELP IS ON ITS WAY."
Meanwhile, Trump said on Tuesday that he has cancelled "all meetings" with Iranian officials.
The announcement came one day after the president announced that any country doing business with Iran would pay a tariff rate of 25 per cent on any business conducted with the United States.
Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, Trump said the decision to halt diplomatic engagement was tied to violence against protesters in Iran. “I’ve cancelled all meetings with the Iranian officials until the senseless killing of protesters stops,” he said.
He addressed what he called “Iranian patriots,” urging them to persist in protests and document those responsible for violence. “To all Iranian patriots, keep protesting,” Trump said. “Take over your institutions if possible and save the names of the killers and the abusers.”
Trump said reports on deaths in Iran varied, but insisted accountability would follow. “I hear five different sets of numbers,” he said. “One death is too much.” He warned those responsible for violence that consequences would come.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that diplomacy remains the preferred approach for the United States to deal with Iran, though the Trump administration will not rule out military options if necessary.
.jpg)
