DUBAI – In a recent statement, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Iran is looking to enter negotiations with Washington. This development follows his warning to potentially target Iran due to its violent suppression of protesters. As of Monday, activists have reported that at least 544 people have died in these nationwide protests.
The Iranian government has yet to respond to these comments, which came shortly after Oman’s foreign minister, often acting as a mediator between the U.S. and Iran, visited the country over the weekend. However, the specifics of what Iran might offer in negotiations remain uncertain. President Trump has maintained stringent conditions related to Iran’s nuclear activities and its missile program, which Iran defends as essential to its national security.
In a related development on Monday, Iran urged its citizens to participate in pro-government rallies, showcasing support for the current regime amidst ongoing protests against the leadership of the 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. During these demonstrations, state television broadcasted slogans from the crowd, including “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”
Trump Considers Dialogue
Trump and his national security advisors are currently deliberating a variety of possible actions against Iran, which could include cyber operations or direct military strikes, either by the U.S. or in coordination with Israel. This information comes from two sources familiar with the internal discussions at the White House, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the subject.
“The military is exploring options, and we are considering some very robust measures,” Trump stated to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening. When questioned about Iran’s potential retaliatory threats, he responded, “Should they retaliate, we will respond with unprecedented force.”
Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.
“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”
He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”
Iran through country’s parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.
More than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces.
With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.
Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country’s capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.
Fear pervades Iran’s capital
In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.
Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”
Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.
“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, … refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the text warned.
The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.
The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.
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Nikhinson reported from aboard Air Force One.
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