President Trump has disclosed that the US government made efforts to send firearms to Iranian demonstrators amid the widespread anti-regime protests that took over Iran in late 2025 and early 2026.
According to Trump, these weapons were funneled through Iranian Kurdish groups, though reports suggest that very few actually reached the protesters.
“We sent them a lot of guns, and we sent them through the Kurds,” he told Fox News’ Trey Yingst during a phone interview, indicating that the firearms might not have been distributed effectively.
However, some Kurdish leaders have pushed back against Trump’s statements. Hejar Berenzi, who heads the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), said, “During the demonstrations in Iran, we have not received any weapons.”
The anti-government protests in Iran gained momentum late last year, largely driven by the escalating cost of living and a collapsing economy. Throughout this period, Trump consistently encouraged the protesters, promising them support.
On January 2nd, Trump issued a warning to Iran via Truth Social, stating that if the government violently suppressed peaceful demonstrators—something they have a history of doing—the US would intervene.
About two weeks later, Trump reiterated his encouragement to the Iranian protesters, urging them to continue their demonstrations and stating, “Help is on the way.” Yet, at that time, it seemed there were no significant actions from the US to assist the Iranian citizens. Only recently did Trump share that his administration was covertly attempting to provide support.
According to the Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), estimates suggest that over 7,000 protesters have been killed by the Iranian regime in reaction to the demonstrations. Some local reports even suggest that the actual number might exceed 30,000, with Trump stating the figure could be as high as 45,000.
Additionally, Trump publicly threatened on Sunday to target Iranian infrastructure, such as bridges and power plants, if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“If they don’t make a deal and fast, we’re thinking of blowing everything up and taking the oil,” Trump said, adding that there would be significant destruction across the country.
This interview followed a post on Truth Social, where Trump indicated that he would take action against Iran’s energy facilities unless the Strait of Hormuz was opened—a crucial channel for a significant portion of the world’s oil supply.
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day rolled into one in Iran,” he declared. “Open the Channel you crazy bastards or you’ll live in hell.”
Last month, he had paused any military action against Iranian infrastructure until April 6, mentioning to Axios that his team was engaged in “deep negotiations” with Iran and that a deal could be within reach. Yet, he warned that if the negotiations failed, decisive actions would be taken.
Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are reportedly at the forefront of these negotiations, and Trump believes that a deal is close.
“But then they said they’d meet in five days. So I said, ‘Why five days?'” Trump mentioned, expressing skepticism about their seriousness. “So I attacked the bridge,” he explained.
Trump told Yingst that the Iranian negotiators had received temporary amnesty from US attacks as Operation Epic Fury escalated, which began on February 28.
