President Trump has dramatically shifted his rhetoric on Iran, acknowledging that protesters face lethal threats from the Basij militia. In a Fox News interview, Trump admitted that armed plainclothes forces would likely kill demonstrators, contradicting his earlier calls for Iranians to seize control of their government.

This marks a stark reversal from Trump's initial war messaging, where he urged Iranians to rise up after U.S. and Israeli strikes began. The president now recognizes the regime's entrenched security apparatus, including the estimated one million-strong Basij, who have brutally suppressed past protests and killed thousands during recent demonstrations.

Trump's admission reveals the practical challenges of his regime-change strategy. While administration officials maintain that military pressure creates conditions for collapse, the president now concedes that armed resistance from security forces presents a "very big hurdle" for unarmed protesters. The shift suggests growing awareness that Iran's government remains resilient despite targeted strikes on leadership.