Trump says 32,000 people were killed in Iran's crackdown on protesters

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President Trump said successful a quality briefing Friday that 32,000 radical were killed during the caller protests successful Iran, a acold higher fig than has antecedently been reported.

Mr. Trump, who made the remarks portion addressing the Supreme Court's ruling striking down his sweeping tariffs, did not connection a root for the decease toll. When asked if helium had a connection for the radical of Iran, Mr. Trump said "the radical of Iran are precise antithetic than the leaders of Iran" and called it "a very, very, precise bittersweet situation."

Mass anti-government protests roiled Iran successful January until a authorities crackdown crushed the demonstrations. January 8 and 9 are believed to beryllium the bloodiest, astir brutal days successful the country's past since the existent authorities was founded successful 1979. But an net blackout has made it hard to get accusation astir the decease toll.

Two sources, including 1 wrong Iran, antecedently told CBS News that at slightest 12,000, and perchance arsenic galore arsenic 20,000 radical person been killed passim Iran successful the protests. One Iranian antheral was capable to get done the blackout and speak to CBS News connected a video call, describing what sounded similar a massacre of anti-government protesters successful a nationalist square. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has enactment the number of arrests astatine much than 50,000.

US President Donald Trump speaks regarding Supreme Court's ruling striking down his tariffs

Mr. Trump offered enactment for the radical of Iran passim the protests and crackdown. Meanwhile, U.S. subject forces person been building up in the portion arsenic helium tries to unit the Islamic Republic to marque a woody connected its nuclear program.

Mr. Trump said Friday that helium threatened the Iranian authorities with a onslaught if nationalist executions were conducted. He previously told "CBS Evening News" anchor Tony Dokoupil successful January that determination would beryllium "very beardown actions" against the Iranian regime if specified executions occurred.

"They were going to bent 837 people, and I gave them the word, if you bent 1 person, adjacent 1 person, that you're going to beryllium deed close past and there," Mr. Trump said. "I wasn't waiting 2 weeks and negotiating. And they gave up the hanging. They didn't bent 837, supposedly they didn't bent anybody."

Mr. Trump besides said Friday that the Iranian authorities "better negociate a just deal" connected its atomic program.

Earlier Friday, the president said that helium was considering a constricted subject onslaught connected the country.

On Thursday, CBS News reported that Mr. Trump had not yet made a last decision about whether to onslaught the country, though apical nationalist information officials person told the president the subject is acceptable for imaginable strikes arsenic soon arsenic Saturday. The sources said the timeline for immoderate enactment is apt to widen beyond this weekend.

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