BREAKING: “Leave Iran Now!”

The U.S. State Department issued a chilling warning to U.S. citizens in Iran: “Leave Iran now.” Is this a sign that America is going to get involved in trying to free the Iranian people?

As reported by The Hill:

President Trump said Tuesday he has canceled meetings with Iranian officials amid widespread demonstrations in the country, and called on protesters to “take over” Iranian institutions.

“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

“I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!!” he continued, referencing “Make Iran Great Again.”

The protests in Iran are now in their third week, and unlike past uprisings – including the massive but ultimately crushed Green Movement in 2009 – this one feels different. There’s a persistence, a confidence, and a breadth to what’s happening in the streets. Economic grievances sparked it, as Iran’s currency, the rial, continues to collapse, but it has grown into something larger: a full-scale challenge to the regime itself.

But of course, the tragic human cost is staggering. Even Iranian officials have admitted to Reuters that more than 2,000 people have been killed. Opposition sources say the number could be as high as 12,000.

President Trump’s response has been twofold.

First, he’s made it clear that the U.S.will not legitimize the regime while it is slaughtering its own people. He canceled all meetings with Iranian officials, severing what many believe the regime hoped would be a diplomatic lifeline or stalling tactic.

Second, the Administration is applying pressure without immediately resorting to military force. The State Department is warning U.S. citizens to leave Iran immediately – especially dual nationals with family ties in Iran — and to do so without expecting U.S. assistance. That alone tells you how volatile the situation has become.

This moment also seems to be cutting across the political aisle. Even some on the Left, including politicians who were silent in 2009, are now publicly stating that they stand with the Iranian protesters. That alone underscores how undeniable this moment has become. And yet, despite all of this, much of the mainstream media is barely paying attention. That’s baffling. A free and stable Iran would transform the region, restore freedom for women, and reduce global terrorism.

ACLJ Senior Counsel for Global Affairs Mike Pompeo joined us on the broadcast and shared his unique perspective on what’s happening in Iran and what it means to the rest of the world:

The last 72 hours have absolutely escalated the protests, not only in their violence, but their seriousness due to the Ayatollah’s willingness to kill his own citizens. They have also expanded in breadth, scope, and scale, spreading to more diverse communities across a broader part of Iran. So, there’s no sign of abatement.

One of the things we talked about last time I was on was that these things often rise up and then they die down. This one has not taken that course, so we are at a fundamentally different place.

You have a U.S. Administration that is operating against the backdrop of the crushing of Hamas, the defeat of Hezbollah, and the Assad regime falling in Syria. This is all in the minds of the Iranian people. And they, too, are looking for their moment, their chance to take back their rightful place in the Iranian economy and with their families, where it’s just a normal nation again.

Secretary Pompeo offered his thoughts on reports that President Trump is placinga 25% tariff on countries that do business with Iran, while also trading with the U.S. Iran is not economically isolated the way many Americans assume. Countries across South America and beyond – including major economies like Brazil – still maintain trade relationships with Tehran.

As the Secretary put it:

I think the economic pressure alone is insufficient, but the cumulative pressure on other nations to tell the Ayatollah, Hey, you’ve got to get out of there. You’ve now made life really hard for us. These are the allies, the folks who do trade with Iran. There aren’t that many, but they may find it’s costly for them, and they’ll throw their buddy, the Ayatollah, overboard.

So, it’s important that we keep the economic pressure up. But in the end, this will be an uprising from the Iranian people. This will not happen because of intervention from some third party. There are things the United States can absolutely do. Make sure the Iranians can continue to communicate. We’ve seen Starlink open up there. Make sure that the targets that we choose, if President Trump decides to go that direction, actually deliver a strategic defeat to the regime. Think of their ballistic missile program, the basis on which their terror organization, the IRGC, operates. There are legitimate military targets that can make sure the Iranian people know that the world is with them, and second, can diminish the capacity of the Iranians to strike into the Gulf or into Israel. One of the things that everyone worries about when a regime falls is that they’ll have this last gasp of firing off their missiles and rockets and the like, and the United States could do a lot to reduce that risk.

President Trump has made it clear: This is not about America marching in to run another country. It’s about standing with people who are risking everything to reclaim theirs, while making it unmistakably clear that the world is watching, names are being recorded, and accountability is coming.

We’ll continue to monitor this closely. Because whether the media wants to admit it or not, history may be unfolding right now in the streets of Iran.

Today’s Sekulow broadcast included more discussion of this ominous announcement from the State Department, as well as what our response might be, and how the world will react. We were also joined by U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Ric Grenell.

Watch the full broadcast below: