DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran has reached out to negotiate with Washington, following his warnings of possible military action over Tehran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests that activists say have killed at least 544 people.
Trump’s remarks came as demonstrations across Iran entered their second week, marked by mass arrests, an information blackout, and an escalating show of force by the country’s leadership. Iranian authorities have not confirmed casualty figures, while independent verification has been hampered by internet shutdowns and restrictions on communications.
“Iran wants to negotiate,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One late Sunday, adding that discussions were underway to arrange a meeting. However, he cautioned that the United States might act before any talks occur, citing the rising death toll and continued arrests. “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting,” he said.
Iran did not immediately respond to Trump’s comments. Over the weekend, Oman’s foreign minister, a longtime intermediary between Washington and Tehran, traveled to Iran, fueling speculation of behind-the-scenes diplomatic contacts.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to foreign diplomats in Tehran, claimed the situation was “under total control” and blamed the unrest on Israel and the United States, without providing evidence. “That’s why the demonstrations turned violent and bloody, to give an excuse to the American president to intervene,” Araghchi said in remarks carried by Al Jazeera, one of the few international networks permitted to report live from inside Iran despite the nationwide internet shutdown.
At the same time, Araghchi said Iran remained “open to diplomacy.” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei echoed that position, saying a communication channel with the U.S. was still open but warning that any talks must respect “mutual interests and concerns,” not what he described as one-sided or dictated negotiations.
On Monday, Iranian authorities mobilized tens of thousands of pro-government supporters in Tehran and other cities in a show of strength after days of protests directly challenging the rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86. State television broadcast crowds chanting “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” along with slogans calling for punishment of the government’s opponents.
Iran’s attorney general has said protesters could face charges such as “enmity against God,” an offense that carries the death penalty under Iranian law.
According to two people familiar with internal White House discussions, Trump and his national security team are weighing a range of responses, including cyber operations and potential strikes by the U.S. or Israel. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump said. Asked about Iranian threats of retaliation, he warned: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”
Iran’s parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that U.S. forces and Israel would be considered “legitimate targets” if Washington uses force in response to the unrest.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that more than 10,600 people have been detained since the protests began, with 496 of those killed identified as protesters and 48 as members of security forces. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify the figures, and Iran has not released official nationwide casualty data.
Witnesses in Tehran described a tense atmosphere as security forces tightened control. Streets reportedly empty at sunset, with residents staying indoors after dark for fear of arrest. Authorities sent mass text messages warning families to keep young people off the streets and threatening decisive action against what they described as “rioters” and “terrorist mercenaries.”
The protests began on Dec. 28 following the collapse of the Iranian rial, which has fallen to more than 1.4 million to the U.S. dollar amid economic pressure from international sanctions linked in part to Iran’s nuclear program. What started as economic demonstrations quickly evolved into broader calls challenging the country’s theocratic system.
Videos circulating online and shared by activists purportedly show rows of bodies at the Kahrizak Forensic Medicine Center on the outskirts of Tehran, with grieving families attempting to identify the dead. Human rights groups and individuals familiar with the facility say the footage is authentic, though authorities have not commented on the videos.
As Iran maintains its information blackout and continues mass arrests, activists and observers warn that the lack of transparency may be enabling a harsher crackdown, even as diplomatic signals and threats intensify between Tehran and Washington.
