Donald Trump's sudden deescalation with Iran sparks shock and relief among regime opponents

It seems a full-blown war between Iran and the United States has been delayed, at least for now.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that the killing in Iran had stopped and that authorities were no longer planning mass executions, which appeared to be a sign of easing tensions in the region. It marked a sharp turn from his earlier hard-line support for anti-regime protesters and promises of military intervention.

Some Iranians who had hoped for outside help are angry, while others who oppose the regime feel relieved that the US will not destroy their country.

Until Wednesday, Trump had repeatedly warned Tehran that killing protesters would trigger a strong response. After the deadly crackdown on 8 and 9 January, when the death toll was estimated at more than 2,000, Trump declared help was "on the way" and urged Iranians to take over government buildings. He also warned that he would act if detainees were executed.

But on Wednesday, Trump said the killing of dissidents had stopped and that he had been told no executions would take place. When asked about images of bodies in black plastic bags, he repeated the regime's claim that protesters had fired on security forces and were shot in return.

Iranians who banked on foreign intervention to topple the regime now feel abandoned.

Yalda, a master's student in the arts in the West, remarked to The New Arab: "I fell apart. So many people were killed. Didn't he say help was on the way? Many people went into the streets hoping for outside help and were killed." 

She said that with her friends abroad, she now plans to message US senators who support military action against Iran.

Internet access in Iran has been entirely cut since 8 January, but limited connections, mainly through Starlink, when not jammed, have allowed Iranians to communicate with the world.

Meanwhile, supporters of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed Shah, tried to downplay Trump's remarks. Many of them live abroad and were previously among the loudest voices urging people into the streets, and they have continued to call for war.

One supporter wrote on Facebook: "Dear compatriots, Trump has not backed down. Other groups are pressuring Trump not to attack Iran, but he is not giving in and is waiting for the right moment to finish the job."

There is no reliable way to measure how many Iranians support foreign intervention. But many within Iran and outside are against it, arguing that any US military action would serve Washington's interests, not the freedom of the Iranian people.

These Iranians said they felt happy after Trump's comments, though they remain unsure what his shifting statements mean for the future.

"Why doesn't America bring freedom to the Saudi people? Do they have political and personal freedoms?" asks Mohammad Reza, an electrical technician who was a political prisoner both before and after the 1979 revolution.

He points to Libya, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, arguing that foreign intervention only makes life worse for ordinary people. He stressed that any change must happen from within the country.

This view is also common even among numerous opposition figures living in exile.

An Iranian user on X wrote: "Trump has no responsibility toward the people of Iran. He cares first about himself, second about his movement, and third (if it suits him) about the interests of the United States. Anyone who trusts him will pay the price for their own mistake."

Seyyed Hossein Mohaddes, a prominent Iranian researcher in exile, also commented on the calls for a US or Israeli strike on Iran from Reza Pahlavi.

"It is one of the wonders of the times," he wrote, "that some Iranians, out of emotion or desperation, have placed their hopes in the most unprincipled and outrageous opposition figure, backed by the sleaziest US president and the most criminal Israeli prime minister, to bring freedom and prosperity to the Iranian nation!"

Despite the strong reactions to Trump's sudden shift, it remains unclear what policy the US will adopt towards Iran. Some argue that the harsh remarks by the US representative at the UN Security Council Thursday night suggest Washington may be preparing a longer-term plan for military action. 

War with the US may have been delayed for now, but for the Iranians within the country, the anxieties and challenges remain and will likely increase.