2026-01-13 16:38, updated 2026-01-13 17:04
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2026-01-13 16:38
update
2026-01-13 17:04
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on protesters in Iran to continue anti-government protests and “take over institutions” and announced that he would help them. Trump also announced that he had canceled all meetings with representatives of the regime in Tehran.
“Iranian Patriots, CONTINUE TO PROTEST – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Preserve the names of the killers and torturers. They will pay a high price” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
I have canceled all meetings with Iranian officials until the senseless killing of protesters ends. HELP IS ON THE WAY. FLASHING!!!” – he added, using an acronym meaning “Make Iran Great Again”.
Trump has not yet explained what aid he is talking about. On Monday, he announced the imposition of 25 percent. customs duties on goods from countries trading with Iran, but has not named these countries or signed the relevant regulation yet.
Tariffs, sanctions or attack? Options to choose from
According to reports in the Wall Street Journal, Trump is scheduled to meet with his top advisers on Tuesday about possible ways to respond to the Iranian protests. The available options included military attacks – which Trump has openly threatened many times before – as well as cyber attacks, sanctions or support from leading voices opposed to the regime.
On Monday, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt informed about ongoing talks with Iran conducted by Presidential envoy Steve Witkoff. Leavitt also assured that “diplomacy is always the number one option for the president.”
Tragic death toll
Due to the Iranian authorities cutting off the Internet, the number of victims of the anti-government protests that have been ongoing in the country for over two weeks is difficult to determine, but according to independent Iranian media and human rights organizations, it ranges from approximately 2,000. to over 12 thousand
Russia condemns US threats to attack Iran
Russia's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned US threats to attack Iran, calling them “subversive foreign interference” that is “absolutely unacceptable.”
“Those who plan to use externally inspired unrest as a pretext to repeat the June 2025 aggression against Iran must be aware of the disastrous consequences of such actions for the situation in the Middle East and global international security,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned “unceremonious attempts to blackmail” Iran's foreign partners by raising customs duties.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he was seriously considering striking facilities in Iran in response to the regime's crackdown on anti-government protests in that country. On Monday, he announced the introduction of 25 percent tariffs on goods from countries “doing business” with Iran.
According to World Bank data, Iran's largest trading partner is China, which is responsible for over 1/4 of Iran's trade. Russia is also an important ally of Iran.
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From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)
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