President Donald Trump mentioned that Iran has expressed interest in engaging in negotiations following his warning to the country amidst reports of at least 544 casualties in ongoing protests. Iran has not yet responded to this statement, which comes after the visit of Oman’s foreign minister, a mediator between Washington and Tehran, to Iran over the weekend. The nature of Iran’s potential commitments remains uncertain, especially considering Trump’s stringent demands regarding Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile arsenal, which Iran deems essential for its national security.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, asserted during a meeting with foreign diplomats in Tehran that the situation is now under control. He made fiery accusations blaming Israel and the U.S. for the violence without providing concrete evidence. Araghchi suggested that the demonstrations turned violent and deadly to create a pretext for American intervention, as reported by the Qatar-funded Al Jazeera news network, which is allowed to broadcast live from Iran despite the internet shutdown.
In response to the protests challenging the rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran called for loyalist demonstrators to rally in support of the theocracy. State television broadcasted scenes of supporters chanting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans. Trump and his national security team are reportedly deliberating various potential responses to Iran, including cyberattacks and direct military action by the U.S. or Israel.
Trump mentioned that his administration is exploring the possibility of arranging a meeting with Iranian officials but hinted at the need for preemptive action in light of the escalating situation on the ground. He conveyed that Iran is interested in negotiations but emphasized the importance of addressing the current unrest promptly. Iranian parliamentary speaker warned that the U.S. military and Israel could become “legitimate targets” if force is used to suppress the protests.
According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, over 10,600 individuals have been detained during the recent protests, with 496 protesters and 48 security personnel reported dead. With communication channels disrupted in Iran, monitoring the demonstrations remotely has become challenging, with concerns mounting about a potential harsh crackdown by Iranian security forces. Despite the information blackout, videos circulating online purportedly show continued protests, indicating persistent unrest in the country.
Authorities in Iran have issued warnings to the public, cautioning against participating in demonstrations due to the presence of armed groups and the potential for violent incidents. Amidst the ongoing crisis, the protests that began over economic grievances have evolved into a direct challenge to Iran’s ruling regime.
