President Donald Trump stated that close to 65,000 protesters have been killed following the attempted uprising in December 2025 and January, according to the Washington Examiner. He explained why the Iranian people have not risen up to fight. The president refused to say if U.S. intelligence would help these dissidents. He told reporters it “wouldn’t be appropriate to say” if the CIA would aid them.
Despite this silence on intelligence aid, Trump launched Operation Epic Fury in February. The Iranian leadership and military infrastructure were targeted in a massive assault. The Washington Examiner reported that the president launched this operation while refusing to confirm further support for the people on the ground.
.@POTUS: “When I ask that question, I ask it sort of knowing the answer — the only answer is they’re being shot. The regime is getting weaker and weaker by the day, and at some point, they’re not going to be able to shoot so easily.” https://t.co/AUYQb5SsTy pic.twitter.com/YOWG6sUlGs
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 2, 2026
The president made it clear he is “not trying to force Iran to the bargaining table.” Instead, he is simply waiting for the country to implode under pressure. According to the Washington Examiner, Trump posted on Truth Social that he is “not trying to force Iran to the bargaining table” but rather waiting for the nation to collapse. Trump implied that Tehran might be approaching its maximum capacity for endurance.
He stated that the economy was “totally collapsing” while the United States held “almost total control of the Hormuz Strait.” He believes the people will eventually refuse to take the violence anymore. The focus remains on the internal collapse rather than a signed deal.
The timeline for these events points to a specific period of intense conflict. The uprising attempts occurred in December 2025 and January. The military assault, Operation Epic Fury, began in February. The president’s comments about the death toll and the regime’s weakness came during this window of action. He sees the regime’s power fading day by day.
He made it clear that he would not force a bad deal on the table. Trump stated via Truth Social that he is “not trying to force Iran to the bargaining table.” The strategy relies on the internal pressure causing the government to fail. The administration is watching to see if the collapse happens as predicted.
