Foreign Policy

Iran’s Bloody Crackdown Exposes Weakness; Trump Holds America’s Strong Hand Firm

By National Security Desk | January 12, 2026

With Iran’s harsh crackdown escalating protests and death tolls, President Trump stands resolute, warning of unprecedented retaliation while pursuing cautious negotiations that protect U.S. sovereignty.

Iran's brutal suppression of nationwide protests has now cost at least 544 lives—a grim tally exposing the failure of Tehran's theocracy and challenging the stability of an already volatile Middle East. Yet amid this unrest, President Donald Trump asserts that Iran is eager to negotiate, signaling a rare diplomatic opening birthed not from weakness but from pressure applied by America's firm stance against tyranny. Is Iran’s Regime Crumbling or Calculating? The protests, sparked by economic collapse worsened by international sanctions—including those championed by the U.S.—have morphed into a direct challenge against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's iron grip. The regime’s...

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