U.S. President Donald Trump is escalating pressure on Iran as nationwide protests continue amid a deadly security crackdown. In a series of statements, Trump tells Iranian protesters that “help is on the way,” cancels meetings with Iranian officials, and warns of consequences if demonstrators are killed.

Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, triggering fresh concerns about the independence of the US central bank. Powell has publicly linked the probe to ongoing political pressure over interest rate decisions, raising alarms across financial markets.