Iran says open to US talks, situation ‘under control’
Iran says it is keeping communications open with the United States as it weighs a response to President Donald Trump’s deadly crackdown on protests that pose one of the harshest challenges to religious rule since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Trump said Sunday that the United States may meet with Iranian officials and has been in contact with the Iranian opposition, putting pressure on leaders, including threatening possible military intervention, over deadly violence against protesters.
US-based human rights group HRANA said it had confirmed the deaths of 572 people, including 503 protesters and 69 security personnel, and the arrest of 10,694 people since the protests began on December 28 and spread across the country.
Reuters could not independently verify the figures.
The flow of information from the Islamic Republic has been disrupted by an internet outage since Thursday.
With their regional influence much diminished, Iran’s leaders face violent demonstrations that range from complaints about dire economic hardship to defiant calls for the destruction of the deeply entrenched religious institution.
But despite the massive size of the protests, there are no signs of divisions in the leadership of Shiite clerics, the army or security forces, and the demonstrators have no clear central leadership.
The opposition is fragmented.
In my phone conversation with the British Foreign Secretary this evening, I made it clear that the UK is obliged to ensure the safety and security of Iran’s Consulate and Embassy in London in accordance with international legal obligations. If the UK fails in its duty to protect diplomatic missions… pic.twitter.com/Dd7YBfNsiW— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) January 12, 2026
In confirmed video footage, Iranians gathered at Tehran’s Kahrizak Forensic Medicine Center on Sunday, standing over rows of dark body bags.
Iranian officials have not given an official death toll but blame US intervention and what they call Israeli and US-backed militants for the bloodshed.
State media focused attention on the deaths of security forces.
Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said on Monday that teams of “terrorists” responsible for actions including killing paramilitary volunteers loyal to religious institutions, setting fire to mosques and attacks on military sites have been arrested.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that the “contradictory messages” from the United States showed a lack of seriousness, but contacts continued.
“The communication channel between our Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and the US special envoy (Steve Witkoff) is open and messages are exchanged whenever necessary,” he said, adding that contacts also remain open through traditional intermediary Switzerland.
In his briefing to foreign ambassadors in Tehran, Araqchi reiterated that the Islamic Republic is ready for war but also open to dialogue.
He said that “the situation is completely under control” and that internet services across the country will be restored in a short time.
“He will return soon in coordination with internet security authorities,” he said, Al Mayadeen reported.
Addressing a large crowd in Tehran’s Enqelab Square on Monday, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqir Qalibaf said Iranians are fighting on four fronts: “economic warfare, psychological warfare, military warfare against the United States and Israel, and today, the war against terrorism.”
Araqchi said on Monday that a total of 53 mosques and 180 ambulances have been set on fire since the protests began.
CCTV footage from inside Tehran’s Abuzar Mosque shows a dozen men, many wearing face masks, ransacking the structure last week, throwing books to the ground and destroying furniture.
Reuters confirmed the timestamp and location. –
State media reported that the mosque was set on fire on January 9.
Trump said Sunday he called for talks on Iran’s controversial nuclear program.
Israel and the United States bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities in a 12-day war in June.
“Iran wants to negotiate, yes. We can meet with them. A meeting is being arranged, but we may have to take action because of what’s going on before the meeting, but a meeting is being arranged. Iran called, they want to negotiate,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
With AP and EFE
