U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington may hold talks with Iranian officials and is in contact with opposition figures, as he considers a range of tough responses — including possible military action — to Iran’s violent crackdown on protests. The unrest represents one of the most serious challenges to Iran’s clerical leadership since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran signaled a dual-track stance on Monday. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told foreign ambassadors in Tehran that the country is prepared for confrontation but remains open to diplomacy. Trump has warned Iran’s leadership that the United States would respond militarily if security forces fire on demonstrators.
A U.S.-based rights group, HRANA, said it had confirmed the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 members of the security forces, with more than 10,600 people arrested. Iranian authorities have not released official figures, and the numbers could not be independently verified.
Trump said on Sunday that Iran had reached out to negotiate its nuclear program, which was targeted by U.S. and Israeli strikes during a 12-day conflict in June. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said a meeting was being arranged but stressed that the United States might act before talks take place, depending on developments on the ground.
According to a U.S. official, Trump is scheduled to meet senior advisers to review options, which media reports said could include military strikes, cyber operations, expanded sanctions and support for anti-government groups. Trump added that the military was actively assessing the situation and that “very strong options” were under consideration.
Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, cautioned Washington against what he described as a miscalculation, warning that any attack on Iran would make Israel and U.S. bases and assets legitimate targets.
Protests intensify amid crackdown
The demonstrations began on December 28 over soaring living costs before evolving into broader opposition to Iran’s ruling clerics. Many Iranians have grown increasingly resentful of the powerful Revolutionary Guards, whose vast business interests span sectors such as energy, construction and telecommunications.
Iranian state television broadcast footage of large funeral processions for fallen security personnel and pro-government rallies in multiple cities, while officials urged citizens to join nationwide demonstrations condemning what they described as terrorist actions backed by the United States and Israel.
Araqchi said the situation was now under control, claiming that Trump’s warnings had emboldened violent groups seeking to provoke foreign intervention. Information from Iran has been limited by an internet blackout imposed last week. Trump said he would speak with Elon Musk about restoring connectivity through Starlink, while Araqchi said internet access would be gradually restored in coordination with security agencies.
Social media footage showed large nighttime marches in Tehran, while state television aired images of body bags at the capital’s coroner’s office and families waiting outside forensic centers to identify victims. Authorities declared three days of national mourning for those killed, framing them as martyrs of resistance against the United States and Israel.
Israeli officials said the country remains on high alert amid the risk of U.S. involvement. Israel and Iran fought a brief war in June 2025, during which the United States struck Iranian nuclear facilities and Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israel and a U.S. base in Qatar.
Analysts said the unrest comes at a sensitive time for Tehran, as it continues to recover from last year’s conflict and faces a weakened regional position. Former U.S. diplomat Alan Eyre said the protests are unlikely to topple Iran’s leadership but could leave the system significantly weakened.
Trump, posting on social media, said the United States stands ready to help Iranians seeking freedom.
