US President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on Iranians to continue protesting against the government and to take over the country's institutions, promising that “help is on its way” and pausing all diplomatic efforts.
Mr Trump also warned that those responsible for deaths and abuse would be held to account, asking “Iranian patriots” to “save the names of the killers and abusers”.
Iran's mission to the UN called on the world body to condemn the US over Mr Trump's comments, which it said were threatening and aimed at inciting violence.
His comments, in a post on Truth Social, came a day after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was ready for war but open to communication.
Later on Tuesday, while visiting a factory in Michigan, Mr Trump said: “I think they should get out” when asked what Europeans and US allies in Iran should do.
Canada told its nationals to leave Iran immediately. Germany and Australia issued similar notices. The US "virtual embassy" for Tehran said Americans in Iran should leave now.
"If safe to do so, consider departing Iran by land to Armenia or Turkey," the embassy said.
He appeared to shut down the prospect of immediate dialogue, saying he had cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials “until the senseless killing of protesters stops”.
At least 646 people have been killed, including nine children, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
The death toll, believed to be much higher, includes at least 505 protesters, 133 members of security and law enforcement forces, and seven bystanders. The rights group has also said it is investigating 579 more reported deaths after the communication blackout in Iran passed 100 hours, making access to information difficult.
Mr Trump was asked by CBS News about reports that Iran plans to start hanging protesters as early as Wednesday.
"We'll see how that works out for [Iran]," he said. "It's not gonna work out good."
Mr Trump also wrote the word Miga in his earlier posting, meaning Make Iran Great Again, a play on his Maga movement.
The White House's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff at the weekend met Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah and a prominent voice in the fragmented opposition, to discuss the protests, Axios reported on Tuesday, quoting an unidentified senior US official.
The New York Times, quoting a US official, has reported that the Pentagon is presenting Mr Trump with a range of strike options, including against Iran's nuclear programme and ballistic missile attacks. In June, the US conducted strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
US Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen, the top members of the Senate foreign relations committee, released a statement expressing solidarity with the people of Iran.
“Congress and the American people stand with the resilient people of Iran in their aspiration for a free and prosperous future,” they said. “We demand that the government of Iran immediately cease suppression of its people. The future of Iran should be decided by the Iranian people.”
In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic on Monday, Mr Araghchi said channels of communication with the US were open, but that his country was “prepared for all options”.
He said Iran now has “large and extensive military preparedness” compared to last year’s 12-day war with Israel.
“If Washington wants to test the military option it has tested before, we are ready for it,” said Mr Araghchi.
Iran is witnessing widespread protests across its 31 provinces, evolving from complaints about the dire economic situation to calls for regime change.
Authorities have accused the US and Israel of backing and instigating violence and chaos, and have threatened a “no leniency” response towards “foreign-backed rioters”.
Despite the protests, it remains unclear if there are divisions in the security elite that could bring down the clerical system that has been in power since a 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Britain, France, Germany and Italy all summoned Iranian ambassadors in protest against the crackdown.
"The rising number of casualties in Iran is horrifying," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights meanwhile said he was “horrified” by the violence against protesters in Iran.
“This cycle of horrific violence cannot continue. The Iranian people and their demands for fairness, equality and justice must be heard,” Volker Turk said.
