Trump Says Iran Wants To Negotiate As The Death Toll In Protests Rises To At Least 646

WASHINGTON (AP) — US President Donald Trump said: Iran wants negotiations with Washington after threatening to attack the Islamic Republic over a crackdown on protesters who activists say have been killed. at least 646 people.

Iran did not directly react to Trump’s comments, which came after Oman’s foreign minister, a long-time interlocutor between Washington and Tehran, traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear what Iran can promise, especially as Trump has made strict demands regarding its nuclear program and ballistic missile arsenal; Tehran insists they are vital to its national defence.

Speaking to foreign diplomats in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that “the situation was completely under control” in statements blaming Israel and the United States for the violence, without providing any evidence.

“Therefore, the demonstrations took a violent and bloody turn to give the American president an excuse to intervene,” Araghchi said in comments quoted by Al Jazeera. The Qatar-funded network was allowed to report live from within Iran despite the internet shutdown.

However, Araghchi said Iran was “open to diplomacy.” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the channel to the United States remained open, but the talks should be “based on the recognition of mutual interests and concerns, not a one-sided, unilateral and dictation-based negotiation.”

Meanwhile, pro-government demonstrators took to the streets on Monday to support the theocracy. protest days directly challenges The rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television reported that the crowd, numbering tens of thousands, chanted “Death to America!” shouted slogans. and “Death to Israel!”

Others shouted “Death to the enemies of God!” he shouted. Iran’s attorney general has warned that anyone who participates in the protests will be considered “enemies of God” and punished with the death penalty.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran’s public rhetoric differs from the private messages the administration has received from Tehran in recent days.

“I think the president is interested in investigating these messages,” Leavitt said. “But that said, the President has shown that he is not afraid to use military options if he deems it necessary, and no one knows that better than Iran.”

Trump and his national security team are considering a range of potential responses to Iran, including cyberattacks and direct U.S. strikes. or israelThat’s according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The military is looking at this, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday night. When asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do this, we will hit them at levels they have never been hit before.”

Meanwhile, Trump announced on Monday that countries doing business with Iran will face 25% tariffs from the United States. Trump announced the tariffs in a social media post and said they would be “effective immediately.”

This was an action against Iran over its crackdown on protests by Trump, who believes tight tariffs can be a useful tool in encouraging friends and foes to bend to his will on the global stage.

Brazil, China, Russia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates are among the economies doing business with Tehran.

The White House declined to comment further on the president’s tariff announcement.

Trump said Sunday that his administration was in talks with Tehran to set up a meeting, but warned he may have to act first as Iran’s death toll rises and the government continues to detain protesters.

“I think they’re tired of being beaten by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants negotiations”

Iran warned Sunday, through the country’s parliament speaker, that the US military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if Washington used force to protect demonstrators.

More than 10,700 people have been detained in two weeks of protests, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said, providing accurate information about the unrest in recent years and providing the latest death toll early Tuesday. It is based on cross-checking information from his supporters in Iran. It was stated that 512 of the dead were protesters and 134 were members of the security forces.

With the internet shut down and phone lines cut in Iran, it has become more difficult to gauge demonstrations from abroad. The Associated Press failed to do so evaluate the fee independently. The Iranian government did not release overall casualty figures.

Those abroad fear the information blackout has emboldened hardliners within Iran’s security services to launch a violent crackdown. Online videos allegedly showed more demonstrations from Sunday night into Monday, and a Tehran official acknowledged them in state media.

At 14:00 on Monday afternoon, Iranian state television broadcast images of demonstrators streaming towards Enghelab Square in Tehran, or “Islamic Revolution” Square in the capital. The statements of the Iranian government, security and religious leaders who will attend the demonstration have been published since the morning.

He described the meeting as an “Iranian uprising against American-Zionist terrorism” without addressing the underlying anger felt in the country over the country’s struggling economy. State television broadcast footage of such demonstrations across the country to signal that the protests were over.

An eyewitness in Tehran told the AP that the streets were empty every night when the call to prayer was called at sunset. When it’s time for the night prayer, the streets become deserted.

Part of this stems from the fear of being caught in print. Police sent a text message to the public warning: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and gunmen at some meetings last night, their plans to cause death and the firm decision not to tolerate any appeasement and to engage decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to be careful with their teenagers and teenagers.”

Another text, allegedly from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, directly warned people not to participate in the demonstrations.

The witness spoke on condition of anonymity due to ongoing pressure.

demonstrations It began on December 28, when the Iranian rial currency, traded at over 1.4 million, fell to $1 as Iran’s economy remained under pressure in part due to international sanctions imposed over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and turned into calls to directly challenge the Iranian theocracy.

Julia Nikhinson reported from Air Force One. Melanie Lidman contributed to this report from Tel Aviv, Israel.