US President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States has previously attempted to arm Iranian anti-regime protesters, but the weapons were diverted and never passed to the right people, threatening that those who kept the guns for themselves would “pay a big price.”

The comments appeared to be aimed at Kurdish separatists, as he had blamed them for doing so a day earlier, though he did not specify this in his Monday comments.

While speaking to reporters at a White House Easter event, Trump said the armaments were intended to reach anti-government protesters to help them fight back against Iranian authorities.

In January, during the mass wave of anti-regime protests that swept across Iran, Trump had vowed that “help was on the way” and urged protesters to take to the streets and seize institutions. But after the regime began its crackdown, reportedly killing tens of thousands, Trump backed down, only beginning military operations against Iran weeks later alongside Israel.

He has since said that Iranians should take to the streets only after protecting themselves from the bombing campaign.

“We sent guns, a lot of guns, they were supposed to go to the people so they could fight back against these thugs,” Trump told reporters.

“You know what........

© The Times of Israel