Analyst Urges Trump to Speak Directly to Iranians Amid Iran’s ‘Occupation’ of Cities

By Solange Reyner | Saturday, 17 January 2026 04:55 PM EST

Foreign policy analyst Walid Phares told Newsmax on Saturday that President Donald Trump should speak directly to the Iranian people from the Oval Office to bolster resistance against Tehran’s brutal crackdown.

Phares described the Islamic Republic’s response to nationwide protests as an “occupation” of its own cities, noting security forces deploy armored vehicles and move “house to house, city to city.” He stated this strategy is provoking even stronger opposition from citizens. The protests, which erupted in late December, have spread across Tehran and other urban centers amid rising anger over economic hardship and political repression.

Phares called the demonstrations “very organized, very stubborn, much better than any waves before.” He sharply criticized Tehran’s forceful response, labeling it “genocidal” and alleging thousands have been killed during the crackdown. Independent estimates vary widely due to communication blackouts, but rights groups report at least several thousand deaths with some opposition sources estimating up to 12,000 killed during peak violence.

Phares urged Trump to take his messaging a step further by addressing the Iranian people directly to “multiply the energy on the ground.” He also called for the president to push back against international pressure that seeks to limit U.S. involvement, saying: “Tell them we know better the interest of the United States.”

The situation in Iran has drawn intense global concern, with human rights organizations reporting thousands killed and tens of thousands arrested, making it one of the deadliest internal crackdowns in recent Iranian history. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has defended the regime’s actions and criticized U.S. support for the protests.