Was Trump scammed? US sent guns for Iran protesters, but none fired

The US tried to uproot the Iranian regime using the same old playbook the CIA has been using for decades, but it did not work out in Iran. The weapons sent by the US to arm protesters against the government were apparently kept by the people of Iran instead of reaching the streets. That was revealed by US President Donald Trump himself. What he didn't reveal was if he was scammed and by whom.

President Trump acknowledged on Monday that his government's effort to arm Iranians had failed. The weapons America sent? They were reportedly diverted by intermediaries.

Speaking to reporters during Easter celebrations at the White House, Trump described how the United States had sent "a lot of guns" intended to help Iranians fight back against what he called the regime's "thugs".

"We sent guns, a lot of guns. They were supposed to go to the people so they could fight back against these thugs," Trump said. "You know what happened? The people that they sent them to kept them, because they said, 'What a beautiful gun, I think I'll keep it'. So I'm very upset with a certain group of people, and they're going to pay a big price for that."

Reporters from Fox News, who spoke with Trump, indicated the weapons were sent through Kurdish channels. Trump suggested the Kurds kept the arms rather than distributing them to Iranian demonstrators.

However, the Alliance of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan said they have "not received any weapons or military assistance from America".

The comments came as Trump responded to a question about how US military actions were helping ordinary Iranians. He claimed the Iranian people actually wanted to "hear bombs falling" because it signalled support for their freedom.

"The Iranian people, when they don't hear bombs go off, they're upset. They want to hear bombs because they want to be free," Trump said. He added that fear of immediate execution was preventing large-scale protests. "The only reason they're not out protesting... is because they were informed that if they protest... they will be shot immediately."

Trump referred to reports of a harsh crackdown, stating that as many as "45,000 protesters had been killed" — a figure he has mentioned in recent addresses on Iran. However, these claims could not be verified by news organisations globally.

According to the president, Iranians lack weapons and would rise up quickly if they had access to arms and felt safe from reprisals. "The Iranian people will fight back as soon as they know they're not going to be shot, and as soon as they can get weapons," he said. "If they had weapons... Iran would give up in two seconds."

IRANIANS WON'T BETRAY THEIR COUNTRY TO AMERICA: IRANIAN EMBASSY IN PAKISTAN

The Iranian Embassy in Pakistan responded to Trump's admission that the US had sent weapons to Iranian protesters.

The embassy called it a clear admission of two fundamental truths. "No one simply sells his/her homeland to hostile forces whatsoever," the embassy stated, underscoring the deep national pride and loyalty of Iranians who refuse to betray their country to America or Israel. It further highlighted the "international law liability" of arming militants against public order in a sovereign UN member state, describing Trump's comments as "mistakes he bothered all to test".

Trump's remarks highlight the challenges of US efforts to encourage internal opposition in Iran amid the ongoing war and America's heavy economic sanctions for decades. The Trump administration has long criticised the Iranian regime as a threat due to its nuclear ambitions, support for proxy groups, and history of repression.

The US and Israeli strikes have targeted Iranian military and nuclear sites, with Trump framing the actions as necessary to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.

Iranians, however, have shown no signs of backing down.

Iranian society is known for its deep cultural heritage, stretching back thousands of years. Many Iranians take pride in their history of scholarship, poetry, art, and scientific contributions, even as they live under strict Islamic rule.

Despite sanctions that have strained the economy, the country maintains a resilient population with a strong national identity.

Critics of the US's approach argue that external interference, including attempts to arm opposition groups, can complicate internal dynamics and play into the regime’s narrative of foreign meddling. The failed weapons delivery appears to fit a pattern where plans to spark an uprising have not materialised as hoped.

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