US President Donald Trump is treading carefully around the issue of mass protests in Iran amid some US predictions that the unrest may not be widespread enough to challenge Tehran's clerical establishment. He declined to meet the Iranian exiled crown prince who has been living in the US for the past three decades. "You have proven, and I know you are a man of peace and a man of your word. Please be prepared to intervene to help the people of Iran," Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi said on a social media platform.
Trump issues stern warning to Iran
In recent days, Trump has warned Iranian leaders that there will be "hell to pay" if they crack down on the protest movement, but he has otherwise adopted a wait-and-see attitude. "You better not start shooting because we'll start shooting too," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday.
Human rights groups have alleged that security forces have killed and injured numerous protesters.
But in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday, Trump only referred to demonstrators being "stomped on" in huge crowds and security forces "shooting the hell out of people" in the past.
The protests are the latest in a series of major demonstrations that have rocked Iran, in which the US has spoken up on the side of the opposition.
Trump declines to meet Reza Pahlavi
Trump said he was not inclined now to meet Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince and son of the late Shah of Iran, a sign that he was waiting to see how the crisis plays out before backing an opposition leader.
"I think that we should let everybody go out there and see who emerges," Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday. "I'm not sure necessarily that it would be an appropriate thing to do."
Pahlavi, who lives near Washington, has called on social media for continued mass demonstrations. In a post on Friday, he called on Trump to get more involved in the crisis with his "attention, support, and action."
US intelligence suggests Iranian leadership is still secure
Earlier this week, a US intelligence community assessment said the protests were not big enough to challenge the leadership of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, news agency Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with US intelligence reports.
But US analysts were watching the situation carefully. The source told Reuters: "Prior to the last 24 hours, the protests were broadly concentrated in cities where opposition to the regime has always been a factor. Moving to strongholds, like the Supreme Leader's hometown of Mashhad, is the significant development."
"We don't comment on matters of intelligence. As the President has stated repeatedly, if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, they will get hit very hard," a White House spokesperson said.
(With inputs from agency)