As protests spread across Iran over economic collapse and political repression, the United States and Israel are weighing how to respond without reinforcing Tehran’s claims of foreign interference. Recent remarks by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu highlight the delicate balance between expressing solidarity with Iranian demonstrators and avoiding actions that could undermine them.
Why It Matters
Iran has experienced repeated waves of unrest over the past quarter-century, each met with force by the state. Western responses to these protests can influence how aggressively Tehran cracks down and whether demonstrators are able to sustain momentum. Visible foreign backing, particularly from Israel or the US, risks allowing the Iranian government to portray domestic dissent as a foreign-backed plot.
What to Know
Tens of thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in recent days, initially protesting soaring inflation and the collapse of the rial, according to reporting by BBC News. Demonstrations quickly escalated into broader political protests, with chants calling for the end of Iran’s ruling system.
The unrest follows a familiar pattern. Iran has seen major protest movements in 1999, 2009, 2017–2018, 2019, 2021, and most notably in 2022–2023 after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Those protests were extensively documented by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which detailed widespread arrests and lethal force used against demonstrators.
Western caution is shaped by history. Iranian officials frequently cite the 1953 overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, carried out with US and British involvement, as evidence of foreign meddling. Declassified documents published by the National Security Archive confirm the role of US intelligence in that episode.
That legacy influenced Washington’s restrained response to the 2009 Green Movement under President Barack Obama, a decision later examined by The Atlantic. By contrast, President Trump openly supported Iranian protesters during unrest in 2017–2018 and 2019, according to coverage by the Associated Press.
During the 2022 protests, President Joe Biden paired public support for Iranian women with targeted sanctions and steps to expand internet access, as reported by The Washington Post.
What People Are Saying
When asked this week whether he supported overthrowing Iran’s regime, Trump declined to do so publicly, speaking instead about Iran’s economic collapse during a meeting with Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, according to Reuters.
Netanyahu emphasized that political change in Iran must come from within. In an interview with Newsmax, he said Israelis sympathize with the Iranian people but cautioned against external interference.
He also warned that any Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel would bring severe consequences, a point he reiterated in a separate interview with Fox News.
What Happens Next
Analysts say economic pressure and indirect support may play a larger role than public statements. Iran’s economic vulnerability has been exacerbated by sanctions tied to its nuclear program and regional activities, including support for armed groups targeting Israel, according to analysis from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
At the same time, global attention remains limited. The current protests have received relatively modest international coverage compared to other regional crises, including limited front-page prominence at outlets such as The New York Times. Human rights groups warn that muted international reaction could lower the cost of repression for Tehran.
For now, the US and Israel appear focused on avoiding direct involvement while monitoring whether Iran’s leadership escalates outward to deflect domestic pressure or intensifies its internal crackdown.
