FnF News
🇺🇸 FNF News | U.S. Foreign Policy & Middle East Affairs
Published: June 18, 2025
By: Khadija Khan, Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent
Trump Issues Tehran Evacuation Warning Amid Tensions: “I Have Zero Sympathy for the Ayatollah Regime”
Washington, D.C. — Former President Donald J. Trump sent shockwaves through international diplomatic circles this week after he publicly urged civilians to evacuate Tehran, citing what he called “imminent chaos” under Iran’s ruling regime. In a message posted on Truth Social Tuesday evening, Trump declared, “If you’re in Tehran, get out. I have ZERO sympathy for the Ayatollah regime. This is their fault.”
The blunt warning comes amid a significant escalation in rhetoric between the U.S. and Iran, following reported attacks on U.S. allies in the Gulf and increased activity by Iran-backed militias across the Middle East.
“If I were a woman in Iran, I would pray for regime change,” Trump added. “This is not about war. This is about freedom from tyranny.”
Mounting Pressure on the Islamic Republic
Iran’s hardline government, led by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has faced mounting internal unrest over the past year. Following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022, protests—especially among women and younger Iranians—have become more frequent and more defiant. Human rights watchdogs have reported mass arrests, internet blackouts, and executions as the regime tries to maintain its grip.
The former U.S. president has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration for what he claims is “appeasement” toward Tehran.
“The Ayatollah doesn’t understand strength. He only understands power. And the only language he listens to is pressure,” Trump said during a campaign rally in Phoenix earlier this week.
Women Under Fire: A Regime in Denial
The regime’s brutal oppression of women remains one of the central grievances voiced by both international observers and Iranian citizens.
According to Amnesty International, over 1,000 women were detained in 2024 for violating hijab laws. Several were reportedly tortured in custody. Videos of young Iranian girls being beaten or arrested for dancing or removing headscarves have gone viral, fueling calls for regime change both inside and outside the country.
“Iran’s women are not just protesting clothing laws,” says Dr. Lila Azari, a U.S.-based Iranian dissident. “They’re fighting for the right to live.”
Trump has publicly expressed support for these women, framing their struggle as part of a larger ideological battle between freedom and authoritarianism.
Is Military Action on the Table?
While no official military action has been announced, Trump’s warning has fueled speculation that the U.S.—or Israel—may be planning targeted strikes on Iranian infrastructure in response to Tehran’s support for regional terrorism and nuclear ambitions.
Earlier this month, Iran was accused of supplying ballistic missile components to Hezbollah and the Houthis in Yemen. Both groups have targeted U.S. and allied positions in the region.
“We’re not looking for war,” said former National Security Advisor John Bolton on Fox News. “But we are entering a phase where deterrence must be credible—and that might mean strikes.”
Pentagon officials have not confirmed any direct planning but did reiterate that U.S. assets are “prepared to defend American personnel and interests” in the region.
Political Fallout: 2024 Echoes Return in 2025
Trump’s Tehran evacuation call reignited debates about his controversial decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) in 2018. While critics claim that move destabilized the region, Trump allies argue that it starved the regime of billions in funds and crippled its influence.
“We remember the planes loaded with cash. We remember Obama’s red lines,” said Senator Josh Hawley. “Trump stopped that. Now Biden is flirting with the same appeasement that failed before.”
Even some Democrats privately acknowledge the administration’s Iran policy is floundering.
Voices from Inside Iran: Hope and Fear
Iranian dissident groups in exile welcomed Trump’s message. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) issued a statement thanking the former president for “standing with the Iranian people.”
However, activists warn that careless escalation could backfire.
“Iranians want freedom, yes,” said Tehran-based journalist Mehdi Khosravi (name changed for safety). “But they fear foreign military conflict might only strengthen the regime’s propaganda about outside threats.”
Conclusion: A Warning or a Prelude?
As global attention shifts to Ukraine, Taiwan, and Gaza, Trump’s sudden intervention in Iran discourse underscores the unpredictability of the Middle East.
What happens next remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: Donald Trump is once again shaping the global conversation—and Tehran is listening.