Trump Says Death Toll from Iran Demonstrations Unclear
Asked directly about the casualties, Trump said: "Nobody has been able to give me an accurate number."
"Everything is a lot. One is a lot. But I have heard numbers much lower, I have heard numbers much higher. We'll probably find out over the next 24 hours. I think it’s a lot. It’s too many," he added while visiting a car plant in Michigan.
When pressed about the type of support the U.S. would provide to demonstrators after his prior statement that “help is on the way,” Trump responded: "You're gonna have to figure that one out, I'm sorry."
Earlier on Tuesday, he once again encouraged Iranian protestors, stating: "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."
Trump also warned that the "abusers" of Iranian protesters will "pay a very big price" and confirmed he had "cancelled all meetings with the Iranian officials until the senseless killing of protestors stops."
"All I say to them (protestors) is help is on its way," he added, referencing recent tariffs imposed on countries doing business with Iran. He further stated: "Make Iran great again," describing the nation as having been "a great country until these monsters came in and took it over, and it's all very fragile."
Tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated after Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, issued a warning Sunday that Israel, U.S. military installations, and shipping hubs would be “legitimate targets” if the U.S. launched an attack. Addressing Trump from the parliamentary podium, Ghalibaf said: “Within the framework of legitimate defense, we do not limit ourselves to responding only after an action. In the event of a US military attack, both the occupied territories (Israel) and US military and shipping centers will be legitimate targets for us.”
Trump downplayed the threat of retaliation, telling reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland that Tehran had issued similar warnings before the U.S. struck its nuclear program in June. "Iran said that the last time I blew him up with the nuclear capability, which they don't have any longer. So, Iran said that the last time. They better behave," he said.
Iran has been gripped by large-scale protests in recent weeks amid a worsening economy and the rapid decline of the Iranian rial.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency, a U.S.-based monitoring group, estimates that at least 646 people have died—including both security personnel and demonstrators—and more than 1,000 have been injured.
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