The US government quietly attempted to funnel guns to the Iranian protesters behind the massive anti-regime demonstrations that rocked the Islamic Republic from late 2025 into early 2026, President Trump revealed.
Those weapons were sent to the Iranian Kurds, but largely do not appear to have made their way to the protesters, according to the president.
“We sent them a lot of guns, we sent them through the Kurds,” Trump told Fox News’ Trey Yingst during a phone call interview, implying that the Kurds likely kept the firearms.
Some Kurdish groups disputed Trump’s claims, with Hejar Berenji, a Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) representative, telling Yingst, “We did not receive any weapons during the time of the demonstrations in Iran.”
Anti-government protests began rocking Iran late last year due to a cost-of-living crisis, a plunging currency, and more. Trump repeatedly urged protesters to continue and vowed to help them.
On Jan. 2, Trump warned Iran via Truth Social that if the theocratic regime violently “kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.”
Nearly two weeks later, Trump called on Iranian protesters to “KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS,” in a Truth Social post, declaring that “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
At the time, it didn’t appear as though the US had taken major steps to provide assistance to the Iranian people. But Trump made clear Sunday that his administration had quietly made attempts.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) estimated that well over 7,000 Iranian protesters were massacred by the regime in response to the mass demonstrations.
Local officials in Iran suggested that the actual death toll was over 30,000, according to multiple reports. Trump told Yingst that the number was even higher, at around 45,000.
Trump also publicly threatened Iran on Sunday that he would target its bridges and power plants if the Islamic Republic refuses to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“If they don’t make a deal and fast, I’m considering blowing everything up and taking the oil,” Trump added. “You’re going to see bridges and power plants dropping all over their country.”
The interview with Yingst came after an explosive, profanity-laced Truth Social post against Iran, in which the president threatened to target power plants and bridges if Iran failed to open the Strait of Hormuz, where over a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supplies flow through on an annual basis.
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F—in’ Strait, you crazy b—–ds, or you’ll be living in Hell.”
“JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah,” he added in the signed post.
Last month, Trump halted attacks against Iranian energy infrastructure through April 6. The president also explained to Axios that his team is in “deep negotiations” with Iran and that while “There is a good chance” of getting a deal, “I am blowing up everything over there” if an agreement isn’t reached.
Special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are leading negotiations with Iran on behalf of the US. Recently, a deal looked close, according to Trump.
“But then they said they will meet us in five days. So I said, ‘Why five days?’ I felt they were not being serious. So I attacked the bridge,” he explained to the outlet.
Iranian negotiators have been given amnesty from US attacks as Operation Epic Fury, which began on Feb. 28, rages on, Trump told Yingst.
