By Ginika Igboke
President Donald Trump said in an April 5 interview that the United States attempted to provide weapons to Iranian protesters earlier this year but believes the effort was unsuccessful.
Speaking to Trey Yingst on Fox News, Trump said weapons were sent through Kurdish groups but were never delivered to the protesters.
According to Trump, “We tried to send them guns, and the Kurds kept them.”
He also claimed that Iranian authorities killed approximately 45,000 civilians during the unrest, though independent verification of that figure has not been confirmed.
Executions and Alleged Repression Continue
Iranian authorities have continued executing individuals linked to opposition movements. On April 4, two men were executed for alleged ties to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, a banned group in the country.
The organization reported that four additional executions took place on March 30 and 31, bringing the total to six within a single week. It alleged that those executed had endured months of physical and psychological torture.
“These state-sanctioned murders were designed to physically eliminate the regime’s organized opposition and terrorize a restless society into submission,” the group said in an April 5 statement.
Protests Driven by Economic Hardship and Political Grievances
According to Amnesty International, protests in Iran began on Dec. 28, fueled by public anger over long-standing repression, rising inflation, poor governance, and deteriorating living conditions.
The organization reported that Iranian security forces used excessive force against demonstrators, including firing rifles and shotguns loaded with metal pellets, often aimed at the head and torso. It also accused authorities of carrying out mass killings during the crackdown.
Amnesty described the government’s response as unprecedented, noting that officials imposed internet shutdowns to limit the flow of information and suppress coverage of the unrest.
Concerns Over Rapid Trials and Executions
Human rights groups have warned that Iranian authorities may accelerate legal proceedings against protesters. Amnesty International reported that on Jan. 5, Iran’s judiciary instructed prosecutors to show “no leniency” and to fast-track cases involving demonstrators.
The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported that at least 160 prisoners were executed in Iran خلال the first three months of 2026, underscoring growing concerns about the use of capital punishment.
U.S. Lawmaker Condemns Iranian Government
U.S. Rep. Adam Smith also criticized Tehran’s actions earlier this year, accusing the regime of violently suppressing its population.
“The Iranian regime is violently cracking down on its own people,” Smith said in a Jan. 16 statement. “Security forces are killing protesters, carrying out mass arrests, and attempting to silence dissent through fear and brutality and a state-imposed communications blackout.”
The situation continues to draw international scrutiny as tensions inside Iran remain high and reports of repression persist.
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