Trump threatens Iran with ‘hell’ if it kills protesters, declines to meet the Shah’s son

US President Donald Trump reiterates his threat of retribution against Iran if the Islamic Republic targets protesters who have been taking to the streets in large numbers to demonstrate against the regime over the past two weeks.

“I have let them know that if they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots… we’re going to hit them very hard,” Trump says in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

When the interviewer says dozens have been killed in the protests, Trump responds that some of those deaths are due to stampedes and not necessarily caused by law enforcement.

“I’m not sure I can necessarily hold somebody responsible for that, but… they’ve been told very strongly — even more strongly than I’m speaking to you right now — that if they do that, they’re going to have to pay hell,” Trump says.

Asked to offer a message to the anti-government protesters in Iran, Trump says, “You should feel strongly about freedom… You’re brave people. It’s a shame what’s happened to your country. Your country was a great country.”

Pressed on whether he’ll meet with Reza Pahlavi, son of the former Shah of Iran, Trump indicates that he will not do so at this time.

“I’ve watched him, and he seems like a nice person, but I’m not sure that it would be appropriate at this point to do that,” Trump says.

“I think that we should let everybody go out there and we see who emerges,” he adds.