President Donald Trump said the United States stands ready to respond forcefully if Iran moves to execute people detained during the ongoing anti-government demonstrations, warning that Washington would not tolerate mass hangings of protesters.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil scheduled to air Tuesday evening, addressing reports of severe repression as unrest continues across Iran.
“We will take very strong action. If they do such a thing, we will take very strong action,” Trump said.
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The President said he is aware that a significant number of demonstrators have already lost their lives during more than two weeks of turmoil. According to information cited by CBS News, at least 12,000 people are believed to have been killed, with some estimates placing the figure as high as 20,000.
Trump reiterated that aid is being directed toward the Iranian public, saying “there’s a lot of help on the way” and noting that support is coming in “different forms,” including economic assistance. He also referred to U.S. airstrikes carried out last year against three Iranian nuclear sites, though he did not elaborate.
When asked what outcome he is seeking in Iran, Trump replied: “The end game is to win. I like winning.”
Pressed to explain what that means, the President pointed to major actions carried out during his first and second terms, including the recent capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the 2019 U.S. raid in Syria that killed ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and the 2020 operation that eliminated Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force.
“We don’t want to see what’s happening in Iran happen,” Trump said. “And you know, if they want to have protests, that’s one thing, when they start killing thousands of people, and now you’re telling me about hanging – we’ll see how that works out for them. It’s not going to work out good.”
.@POTUS: "We had a wonderful speech in front of great people in Detroit… I'm going back to the White House now, we're going to look at the whole situation that's going on in Iran… We'll get some accurate numbers as to what's happening with regard to the killing." pic.twitter.com/g0WZ1lXdyr
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 13, 2026
Later, after returning from a visit to Detroit, Trump told reporters that he planned to review the situation further upon his return to Washington. “I’m going back to the White House now, we’re going to look at the whole situation that’s going on in Iran… We’ll get some accurate numbers as to what’s happening with regard to the killing,” he said.
Earlier Tuesday, Trump posted a message on social media warning Iranian authorities that they would “pay a big price” if the violence continues, while telling Iranian citizens that “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.” He also said that all contacts and meetings with Iranian officials would be suspended until the killings stop.
An Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday that approximately 2,000 people have been killed during about two weeks of protests nationwide, including members of the security forces.
The official described those responsible for the unrest as “terrorists” and said fatalities included both demonstrators and security personnel, without providing a detailed accounting.
On Monday night, two Defense Department officials speaking to CBS News said Trump has received briefings on a wide range of military and covert tools available for use against Iran, options that go well beyond traditional airstrikes.
Multiple sources familiar with the discussions said the President’s national security team is scheduled to convene at the White House on Tuesday to assess updated courses of action regarding Iran. It is not yet clear whether Trump will personally attend the meeting.
{Matzav.com}