Trump Claims US Sent Weapons to Iranian Protesters via Kurdish Groups
U.S. President Donald Trump has alleged that the United States attempted to supply weapons to anti-government protesters in Iran through Kurdish groups during the wave of demonstrations that rocked the country in January 2026.
In a telephone interview with Fox News on Sunday, Trump said the arms shipment ultimately failed to reach the intended recipients. According to him, the weapons were routed through Kurdish intermediaries but were never delivered to the protesters.
“We sent them a lot of guns through the Kurds, but I think the Kurds kept them,” he said, reiterating that the supplies did not get to those involved in the protests.
The U.S. president was referring to Kurdish populations spread across parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Some Kurdish militant groups operating within Iran have been labelled terrorist organisations by the Iranian government.
Trump also made a controversial claim regarding the scale of casualties during the protests, alleging that about 45,000 people were killed by Iranian authorities. However, no official death toll has been released by the Iranian government.
Estimates from activist groups suggest around 7,000 deaths, while other reports place the figure as high as 30,000.
His remarks come amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran. Trump warned Iran against escalating hostilities and called for the reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social, he issued a strongly worded message urging Iran to reopen the waterway, while also declaring that Monday would be observed as “Bridge Day.”
