Death Toll Rises

I shouldn’t be unexpected by a regime that urges its people to be suicide bombers and teaches them to hate Jews to see protesters killed by the thousands and counting. US President Donald Trump is encouraging those protesters to keep resisting as he promises to do something to support them as we see in an article from Israel Hayom:

US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he was canceling all meetings with Iranian officials "until the senseless killing of protesters stops." In a post on TRUTH, Trump urged Iranians to continue demonstrating against the regime, writing: "Iranian patriots, keep protesting. Take over your institutions."

The number of protesters killed varies depending on the source:

Earlier, an official Iranian source acknowledged that about 2,000 people had been killed in the crackdown on the protests, while the opposition outlet Iran International put the death toll at around 12,000.

Trump and his leadership are deep into plans to actually send help:

Trump's statement came as the National Security Council convened at the White House on Tuesday to discuss US options against Iran. The meeting was to be led by National Security Adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, together with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Israel Hayom has learned that Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's deposed shah, may also take part in the discussion.

Other news sources cite Trump as not thinking Pahlavi will be part of the talks as we see in an article from The Times Of Israel:

Talks on the Iranian protests did happen — but not with representatives of Iran’s regime. Axios reported, citing an unnamed senior US official, that White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff met with Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, over the weekend to discuss the demonstrations. Pahlavi, who lives in exile, has become an increasingly prominent voice in the fragmented Iranian opposition in recent days. He has been encouraging Iranians to take to the streets to oppose the regime. The meeting comes after Trump, last week, had indicated that he did not plan to meet with Pahlavi, saying that he “seems like a nice person,” but that it would not be “appropriate at this point.”

“There has been an ascendance of Pahlavi. They are chanting his name in demonstrations in many cities and it seems to be happening organically,” a US official told Axios.

Regardless of Pahlavi’s involvement, the US administration is thought to be trying diplomacy as we see in the Israel Hayom article:

Earlier reports said Iran had approached the Trump administration in an effort to resume diplomatic talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reached out to Trump envoy Steve Witkoff over the weekend, and the two discussed the possibility of a meeting in the coming days. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday that "the communication channel between Araghchi and Witkoff is open."

Talks Are Off The Table

However, as mentioned previously, talks with Iran are off the table as they should be. It is the height of arrogance to want to discuss things while they are killing people daily. That being the case Trump’s team differ on what needs to happen next:

There are divisions within the Trump administration over how to respond to the protests in Iran. Vice President JD Vance and envoy Steve Witkoff support entering negotiations, albeit with preconditions. By contrast, Secretary of State Rubio and War Secretary Hegseth argue that US intervention is required, at least in the form of sanctions and a commercial blockade.

I tend to think that Trump is going to do more than either of those suggestions from what he’s told the press recently. Tehran is hoping for less than military attacks, but they do appear to see that strikes are coming:

According to a report by Amwaj Media, which cites sources in Tehran, figures within Iran's political establishment are pushing to renew contacts with the Trump administration in an effort to prevent escalation and secure sanctions relief. These efforts come against the backdrop of the crackdown on protests that erupted on December 28 and US threats to act in support of the demonstrators. A senior political figure in Tehran told the outlet that if the US were to follow through on its threat to attack, the diplomatic effort would collapse.

You think? Of course, talks would collapse. Iranians are the kings of stalling and then pushing for advantages in the talks. To those on the streets of Iran military strength is the only thing that will bring change. Internally Iranian leaders appear to know Trump means business:

Political sources in Tehran also speculate that Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi carried a message from the Trump administration when he visited Tehran on Saturday. Albusaidi met with President Masoud Pezeshkian, National Security Adviser Ali Larijani and Foreign Minister Araghchi. "Some claim Albusaidi delivered an ultimatum from the Americans," an Iranian political source told Amwaj Media. Another senior official rejected that claim, saying that "he did not bring a message or an ultimatum, but rather several ideas."

All of this must come to a head at some point. Trump can’t threaten Iran and post this on his social media platforms without following through:

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

Perhaps MIGA – Make Iran Great Again is in the cards now. While I can’t figure out how all of this plays out in Bible prophecy, I certainly want the people of Iran to be free again. And so should you.