Jan 14 News Live: Trump tells Iranian protesters 'help is on its way'

Multiple Americans detained in Venezuela released, US says

Multiple Americans who were detained in Venezuela have been released, the Trump administration said Tuesday.

“We welcome the release of detained Americans in Venezuela,” the State Department said.

“This is an important step in the right direction by the interim authorities.” It comes after the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a stunning nighttime raid earlier this month.

Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth starts today

The Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) commences today in New Delhi. It will go on till January 16.

Death toll from crackdown on protests in Iran jumps to at least 2,571, activists say

The death toll from a crackdown on protests in Iran jumps to at least 2,571, activists said early Wednesday.

The figure came from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in multiple rounds of unrest in Iran in recent years.

The activist group said 2,403 of the dead were protesters and 147 were government-affiliated. Twelve children were killed, along with nine civilians it said were not taking part in protests. More than 18,100 people have been detained, the group said.

Trump calls on Tehran to show protesters humanity

US President Donald Trump was consulting with his national security team Tuesday about next steps with Iran as he looked to get a better understanding of the number of Iranian citizens who have been killed and arrested in more than two weeks of unrest throughout the country.

Trump said he believes that the killing is “significant” and that his administration would “act accordingly.” He added that he believed the Iranian government was “badly misbehaving.” But the president said he has yet to receive a confirmed number of Iranians killed in the protests that began late last month, saying he has heard “five different sets of numbers” about the death toll.

Since the protests began on Dec 28, 16,700 people have been arrested and more than 2,000 have been killed, the vast majority protesters, according to Human Rights Activists News Agency. The organization relies on a network of activists inside Iran that confirms all reported fatalities.

“The message is they've got to show humanity,” Trump said of the Iranian government. “They've got a big problem. And I hope they're not going to be killing people.”

Qatari, Iranian officials discuss Iran protests

Qatari and Iranian officials have spoken during the deadly crackdown in Iran and America's escalating threats to intervene if protesters are not spared.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, spoke by phone with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's prime minister Tuesday.

In a statement on X, Al Thani said he “reaffirmed the State of Qatar's backing of all de-escalation efforts, as well as peaceful solutions to enhance security and stability in the region.”

Trump cancels meetings with Iranian officials, tells protesters 'help is on its way'

US President Donald Trump has said he's cutting off the prospect of talks with Iranian officials amid a protest crackdown, telling Iranian citizens “help is on its way”.

Trump on Tuesday did not offer any details about what the help would entail, but it comes after the Republican president just days ago said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic, where the death toll from nationwide protests has spiked to more than 2,000, according to human rights monitors.

But Trump, with his latest message on social media, appeared to make an abrupt shift about his willingness to engage with the Iranian government.

"Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” Trump wrote in a morning post on Truth Social, which he later amplified during a speech at an auto factory in Michigan.

“Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY.” Trump, in an exchange with reporters during the factory visit, demurred when asked what kind of help he would provide.

“You're going to have to figure that one out,” he said.