ISTANBUL — Reeling from a crackdown on protesters in Iran that left thousands dead, Iranians are now grappling with feelings of betrayal, confusion and uncertainty after President Donald Trump repeatedly promised to intervene on their behalf and then declined to do so.
Some Iranians said in interviews that Trump’s words of support had added to their determination to resist the Iranian government after protests erupted initially over dire economic conditions and then took on widespread demands for ousting the entire ruling system.
Hadis, 36, a Tehran resident, said in an interview that Iranians turned out to protest, despite widespread killings by security forces, with expectations that Trump would order a military strike on Iranian targets. “Our eyes were fixed on the sky, like something will happen. He’ll hit now,” Hadis said. “We came out [to protest] with fear, but we had hope that Trump will strike now, will kill these guys.”
After Trump refrained from launching an attack, she concluded that he did not have Iranians’ interests in mind. “Trump isn’t thinking of humanity. … You could easily do something for us.” Like others interviewed, she spoke on the condition that her full name not be used for fear of reprisal by the Iranian government.
Aanahita, 45, an Iranian woman in Istanbul, described staying awake all through a recent night amid wide speculation that the United States was about to strike Iran. While an Iranian government shutdown of the internet has it made difficult to communicate with people inside the country, other Iranians in Turkey, Armenia and Dubai described a similar sense of anticipation.
“I kept thinking about how helpless we are that we have to pray for another country to attack us for our salvation and freedom,” Aanahita said. “But today, more than anything, anger is surging through me. I feel like Trump has backtracked again and traded the lives of Iran’s youth.”
Fires are lit as protesters rally against the Iranian government in Tehran on Jan. 8. (Getty Images)
A week after protests got underway in Iran in late December, Trump promised on Truth Social that if Iran were to kill peaceful protesters, the U.S. would “come to their rescue.” He followed that a few days later with a vow that “if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved. We’ll be hitting them very hard where it hurts.”
In another post, Trump promised that “HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” encouraging Iranians to “TAKE OVER” regime institutions.
Iran Has Friends, but Where Are They Now? 
US submarine sinks Iranian warship with torpedo, as Pentagon says it will strike ‘deeper into Iran’ 
Israel launches new strikes on Iran as US identifies first American soldiers killed in conflict 
Iran war fallout: Shock-hit economy rattles policymakers 
War with Iran expands across region; U.S. expects more casualties 
Iranian president says new leadership council ‘has begun its work’ after death of supreme leader