In a dramatic escalation of tensions, United States President Donald Trump has announced the cancellation of all diplomatic meetings with Iranian officials. The move comes amid ongoing nationwide protests in Iran, with Trump sending a direct message of support to demonstrators and hinting at potential foreign intervention.
Trump's Direct Message and Diplomatic Freeze
President Trump took to social media to address the situation in Iran directly. He wrote, '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!!!'
This statement effectively freezes high-level diplomatic contact between the two nations. Trump confirmed to reporters aboard Air Force One that Iranian diplomats had previously reached out to his administration to negotiate. However, he has now drawn a hard line, linking any future talks to an end to the violence against protesters.
Military Options on the Table as Iran Threatens Retaliation
The US President is not ruling out military action. Trump cautioned that military action could come before any diplomatic sit-down if conditions on the ground deteriorate further. He stated, 'We may have to act before a meeting,' and later added, 'The military is looking at it, and we're looking at some very strong options.'
To weigh these options, Trump convened a critical meeting with top advisors. The attendees included:
- Secretary of State Rubio
- Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
- Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine
In response, Iranian officials have issued stark warnings. Mohammad Ghalibaf, Iran's speaker of Parliament, stated that any US military action would result in a retaliatory response. He declared, 'If the United States takes military action, both the occupied territories and US military and shipping lanes will be our legitimate targets... Both US and Israeli military bases could be targets.'
When asked about these threats of retaliation, Trump responded bluntly: 'If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they've never been hit before.'
Protest Toll and Conflicting Communication Channels
The crisis stems from nationwide demonstrations that began in Iran on December 28. The human rights organization HRANA, based in the US, reports it has confirmed about 600 fatalities. However, other reports suggest the actual number is likely much higher, potentially in the thousands.
Despite the public cancellation of talks, communication channels appear complex. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that 'the communication channel between our Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and the US special envoy (Steve Witkoff) is open, and messages are exchanged whenever necessary.' This indicates that lower-level or backchannel communications may still be active, even as formal meetings are halted.
The situation remains highly volatile, with the US president's strong rhetoric and Iran's promises of fierce retaliation creating a dangerous standoff. The world watches closely as the fate of the protesters becomes intertwined with the potential for a major international conflict.
