10 January, 2026

Dear President Trump,
History offers powerful lessons about moments when the words and signals of American leadership profoundly shaped the choices of oppressed peoples. In 1991, during the Gulf War, President George H. W. Bush called on Iraqis to rise against Saddam Hussein. Many did so with courage, particularly in the Kurdish north and the south, believing that the United States would stand by them. The tragic consequences that followed—marked by severe repression and humanitarian catastrophe—remain a sobering reminder of the costs that arise when expectations raised by leadership are not matched by protection or follow-through. History is not reflecting favorably on that episode.
 
In the past week, on several occasions, you issued strong and unmistakable warnings to the Islamic Republic, urging restraint and clearly stating that the United States would not remain indifferent to mass violence against the Iranian people. These statements were widely heard in Iran. In the wake of these messages, Iranians once again rose up with greater confidence to end repression and establish a secular and independent state. Many have paid the price for this courage with their lives.
 
As millions of Iranians have taken to the streets to force the collapse of the Islamic Republic and openly demand the return of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, we are receiving credible reports that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is reinforcing its crackdown by importing armed militias from Iraq to suppress Iranian protesters, while substantial U.S. military capabilities remain deployed in the region. To many Iranians, this disparity between the scale of repression and the absence of visible deterrence is deeply unsettling and risks reviving painful historical memories.
 
Mr. President, Iranian protesters who seek to end the rule of the Islamic Republic continue to look to your leadership with hope. They believe that consistency between words and action can save lives and shape history for the better. Should the Islamic Republic fall during your leadership, through the determination of the Iranian people and with meaningful American support, your role would be remembered as one that helped align U.S. power with the cause of freedom at a decisive moment.
 
Respectfully, Iranians look to you to honor your commitments and to ensure that those who rise in response to the call for freedom are not abandoned to repression and violence.
 
Respectfully,
Dr. Iman Foroutan
Chairman of the Board , The New Iran