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U.S. President Donald Trump made a statement ensuring that he does not want to make military advancements in Iran. The statement came after Iran threatened to strike U.S. military bases in January after the U.S. sent a large naval fleet to the nation. Trump has said that Tehran's time is running out, and if Iran doesn't figure out how to peacefully deal with protesters, then the U.S. will interfere. While Trump said that he is hoping to avoid any military involvement, the U.S. is keeping the possibility open.
Protests in Iran
The protests in Iran began for a litany of reasons: a struggling economy, a corrupt government and leader, and a failure to properly fund public services all led to the demonstrations beginning on December 28. On that day, tens of thousands took to the streets in Iran's capital city, Tehran. While initially, the government did not respond with violence, after more than a week of protests, Iranian security forces began responding to protesters with gunfire, reportedly killing more than 2,000 people in less than a week. Iranian hospitals are overwhelmed, and the violent actions have sent shockwaves across the world. U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it has confirmed 6,479 people have been killed in the protests.
The killings make the protests in Iran the most deadly protests of 2026 so far, and one of the deadliest in the country's history. The protests also come as relations between Iran and Israel, as well as the U.S., have become tense, with both the U.S. and Israel conducting military operations against Iran in 2025 under the guise of fighting terrorism. The government of Iran has also cut the internet country-wide, a common strategy used by Iranian officials during times of public unrest. The protests, which were triggered by Iran's currency falling drastically on December 28, mark years of public frustration finally boiling over.
Trump sends naval fleet
On January 29, Trump sent a large naval fleet to Iran. While Trump claims that he does not want to use it, he made it abundantly clear on January 30 that the fleet is being sent because the U.S. is willing to use it. Iran did not back down from the challenge, telling U.S. television channels that multiple U.S. military bases are within striking distance and Trump's naval fleet has ‘serious vulnerabilities'. According to Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, if the U.S. makes a ‘miscalculation', then Iran will not hesitate to carry out a ‘quick operation'.
Akraminia stated that if there is conflict between America and Iran, the Middle East would be brought into chaos, and oil and gas prices would skyrocket. At least Akraminia has started speaking the language of America, oil. Akraminia is absolutely correct in stating that a war between the U.S. and Iran would throw the global oil exchange into chaos, potentially causing fuel insecurities across multiple nations and certainly negatively impacting every American citizen at the pump. A war between the U.S. and Iran would send oil prices skyrocketing, and damage longstanding oil routes.
Call between Qatar and Iran, EU response
Qatar's leader, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Iran's President, Masoud Pezeshkian, held a call to discuss establishing stability in Iran and de-escalating tensions between Iran and the U.S. The EU also responded to the continued killings of protesters, labelling Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization for what it describes as the mass killings of protesters. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen stated Iran was ‘crushing protests in blood'. Iran's military denounced the action, calling it illogical, irresponsible, and spiteful.
Trump encourages protesters
Trump made a statement on January 14, encouraging protesters in Iran to continue their efforts in the face of the Iranian government's violent actions against protesters. Trump claimed that help is on the way for Iran, presumably coming from the U.S. In a post on Truth Social, Trump urged Iranians to commit an insurrection, telling the population to “Take over your institutions”. Trump went on in the statement to say that he has cancelled all his meetings with Iranian officials and is completely opposed to what he calls senseless killing.
