US President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on protesters in Iran to continue demonstrating, saying that assistance would arrive soon, without sharing further details, reported ANI.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump 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!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP."
Trump's remarks came amid heightened US messaging about the Iran situation and a series of White House statements indicating that multiple options remain under review.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told journalists on Monday that airstrikes are among the "many, many options" under consideration, while stressing that diplomacy remains the administration's "first option."
Her comments followed a fresh directive from Trump aimed at countries doing business with Iran.
Trump announced that any country doing business with the Islamic Republic would face a 25 per cent tariff on all trade conducted with the United States.
The developments come as Iran has been witnessing sustained nationwide protests since late December, drawing divided reactions internationally, with some governments expressing concern over what they describe as foreign-instigated riots, while others have accused Iranian authorities of responding violently to demonstrators, reported ANI, quoting Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, Iran has also imposed major restrictions on communication.
Iran's top cyberspace authority announced on Monday that access to the global internet will remain restricted in the country until officials are satisfied that full security has been restored amid widespread anti-government rallies, Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported.
According to Press TV, citing the President of Iran's National Centre for Cyberspace, Mohammad Amin Aqamiri, the internet blackout, imposed on January 9 amid widespread unrest in several provinces, will continue for the time being.
Meanwhile, Trump said Tuesday that he has cancelled "all meetings" with Iranian officials, reported Xinhua.
Meanwhile, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Tuesday that threats from the United States to launch military strikes against Iran are "categorically unacceptable," said Xinhua.
Speaking at a press briefing, Zakharova said Russia strongly condemns the subversive external interference in the internal political processes in Iran.
Iran has for many years been subjected to illegal Western sanctions, which have hampered the country's development and generated economic and social problems affecting ordinary Iranians, she said.
Zakharova added that hostile external forces are attempting to exploit growing domestic social tensions in Iran to destabilize and destroy the Iranian state.
According to the spokesperson, "color revolution" methods are being used to turn peaceful protests into violent unrest, pogroms and killings of law enforcement officers and civilians.
Zakharova said Russia also firmly rejects the "brazen attempts to blackmail Iran's foreign partners by raising trade tariffs."