‘We Sacrificed Tens of Thousands of Lives Believing America Had Our Back’ — Iranian Activist Says Protesters Feel Abandoned by Trump

An Iranian human rights advocate has claimed that thousands of Iranians who risked—and in many cases lost—their lives in anti-government protests now feel abandoned after what they see as a shift in United States policy toward Iran.

Speaking during an interview with CBN News, Lana Silk, Chief Executive Officer of Transform Iran, said many protesters believed strong statements from U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that Washington would support efforts to challenge Iran's ruling establishment.

According to Silk, the wave of unrest that swept across Iran began as a grassroots movement driven by widespread frustration over years of political repression, economic hardship, and alleged human rights abuses by the Iranian government.

She said early expressions of support from Western leaders encouraged many Iranians to intensify their protests, believing the international community—and particularly the United States—would stand with them.

"Iranians sincerely embraced that and elevated their efforts, sacrificing tens of thousands of lives in their confrontation with the regime, fully believing that America would step in to assist," Silk said.

However, she argued that U.S. rhetoric has changed in recent months, moving away from discussions of regime change toward efforts to pursue a negotiated settlement.

"And that rhetoric has significantly changed and softened in recent months," she added.

Silk said the perceived policy shift has left many Iranians feeling disappointed, anxious, and increasingly angry, replacing the hope that initially fueled the protest movement.

She also claimed that ceasefire agreements and reduced external pressure have enabled Iranian authorities to intensify domestic crackdowns, including increased executions and arrests of individuals detained during previous demonstrations.

According to Silk, the Iranian government has historically used periods of reduced international pressure to strengthen its grip on internal dissent.

Her remarks reflect the views of Transform Iran and have not been independently verified. Iranian authorities have consistently defended their handling of protests, maintaining that they act to preserve national security and public order.