'Big Price To Pay': Trump Rules Out Talks With Iran, Asks Protesters To Take Over Institutions

US President Donald Trump has cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials citing killing of protestors as the reason, according to a post on his social media platform 'Truth Social' on Tuesday.

Trump remarked that Iran will have to "pay a big price" for killing protestors and that talks will remain suspended till the "senseless killing" stops.

Further, he encouraged all the protestors to continue efforts and take over institutions.

"Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MAGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP (sic)," the post stated.

With this announcement, Trump has ruled out the possibility that Iran and US can settle differences via diplomatic dialogue.

The Pentagon is sharing with Trump a broader range of military options against Iran, the New York Times reported, citing an official.

Earlier in the day, reports cited officials as saying that 2,000 people, including security personnel, have been killed so far in the massive protests in Iran.

The protests stemmed from public dissatisfaction regarding Iran's economic condition, which included record-high inflation, unfavourable food prices, and the depreciation of the Iranian rial.

The public protests escalated into an agitation that called for the removal of the current regime in power. Rezha Pahlavi, the ousted Crown Prince of Iran who is currently in exile, also called for protests. He has called for a transition of power with a political referendum.

Additionally, Trump has announced a 25% tariff on goods exported by countries who "do business" with Iran. Trump stated that this new tariff would be "effective immediately".

China had criticised the move, being one of Iran's major trading partners alongside Turkiye, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and India.

Trump has, over the past few days, hinted at launching a military operation against Iran, even noting that the US forces are "locked and loaded".

Tehran has blamed external agents of infiltrating the protests against inflation to fuel the unrest. The ruling supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has publicly condemned the statements of Washington. Iran will not back down, and instead, the "arrogant" US leader will be "overthrown", the 86-year-old said on Friday.