Trump-Iran newest: US envoy ‘secretly meets’ Tehran exiled crown prince as protest demise toll surpasses 2,000
US special envoy Steve Witkoff has reportedly met with Tehran’s exiled crown prince over the weekend, as the death toll surges in Iran’s protests.
Reza Pahlavi is the exiled son of Iran’s last shah and a prominent voice in the fragmented opposition; they reportedly discussed the protests, a senior US official revealed to AXIOS.
US-based HRANA rights group said it verified the deaths of 2,003 people during Iran’s protests, including 1,850 protesters, 135 government-affiliated individuals, nine people aged under 18, and nine non-protester civilians.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has urged protesters in Iran to “take over” institutions as “help is on its way” and warned that Tehran will pay a “big price” for a violent crackdown.
He posted on Truth Social: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!
“Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”
His comments followed reports that the Iranian regime will execute the first protester on Wednesday over his alleged involvement in demonstrations sweeping the nation, rights groups have claimed.
What do we know about Erfan Soltani, the 26-year-old that rights groups say faces the death penalty for his role in the protests?
Erfan Soltani, a resident of Fardis, just west of Tehran, could become the first person to be sentenced to death for participating in protests that have rocked the country over the last two weeks.
Read the full story:
Trump continues to urge Iran protesters to take over institutions
Andrew Feinberg, DC correspondent, reports:
Donald Trump has again urged Iran’s protesters to keep going and “take over” institutions as he spoke at an economic event in Detroit.
“And by the way, to all Iranian patriots keep protesting, take over your institutions, if possible, and save the name of the killers and the abusers that are abusing you, you’re being very badly abused if the numbers are right.
“Now I hear five different sets of numbers. I hear numbers look one death is too much, but I hear much lower numbers, and then I hear much higher numbers, but I say save their names because they’ll pay a very big price and I’ve canceled all meetings with the Iranian officials, until the senseless killing of protesters stops, and all I say to them is, help is on its way. You saw that.
“I put tariffs on anybody doing business with Iran just went into effect today. And and I say, make Iran, great again you know as a great country until these monsters came in and took it over.”
Trump comments calls administration’s interventions in Iran ‘flawless’
US president Donald Trump has commented on his administration’s “flawless” work on the geopolitical stage, including references to interventions in Iran.
“We’re working with the Venezuelan people and representatives. It was amazing, but that was an amazing situation.
“But we did Al Baghdadi flawless. We did Soleimani flawless. We did the Iran nuclear attack while we wiped out that nuclear capacity, which would have been very bad, you wouldn’t have peace in the Middle East. Flawless.
“We did them all. Flawless. I want to keep it going that way too. I like flawless.”
Trump speaks at Detroit Economic Club
President Trump is expected to speak about Iran as he speaks at an economic event in Detroit.
Stay tuned for more.
Recap: Russia breaks with Trump over Iran
The Kremlin issued a stark warning in defence of its ally Iran on Tuesday, as Donald Trump assured protesters that “help is on its way”.
Russia’s foreign ministry condemned what it called “subversive external interference” in Iran’s internal politics, rallying behind Tehran against US involvement.
“Those who plan to use externally inspired unrest as a pretext for repeating the aggression against Iran committed in June 2025 must be aware of the disastrous consequences of such actions for the situation in the Middle East and global international security,” it said in a statement, referring to the US and Israeli strikes last summer.
The foreign ministry said Donald Trump’s threat of strikes was “categorically unacceptable”.
The matter threatens to damage relations with Washington at a crucial time in US-mediated peace talks over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Trump press conference to begin at 7pm UK time
US president Donald Trump is set to give a press conference in the next 15 minutes following comments on protests ongoing in Iran.
Stay tuned as we hope to bring you the latest updates from Trump on the protests.
Trump, asked about US help to Iran protesters, says people must figure it out
US president Donald Trump, asked what he meant by a social media post saying “help is on its way” to protesters in Iran, told reporters on Tuesday that they would have to figure it out.
“You’re going to have to figure that one out. I’m sorry,” Trump said in response to a question. Trump traveled to Detroit to give a speech on the economy.
Trump’s envoy secretly met Iran’s exiled former crown prince
White House envoy Steve Witkoff met secretly over the weekend with the exiled former crown prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, to discuss the protests raging in Iran, a senior US official revealed to AXIOS.
Reza Pahlavi is the exiled son of Iran’s last shah and a prominent voice in the fragmented opposition, to discuss the protests roiling that country,
Italy joins European nations in summoning Iranian ambassador
Italy’s foreign minister on Tuesday said he had summoned the Iranian ambassador over the “absolutely unacceptable” crackdown by Iranian authorities to quell protests across the country.
Britain, France and Germany likewise summoned their ambassadors on Tuesday.
Source: independent.co.uk
