Iran Protests: US Talks Open Amid Deadly Crackdown

Protests have spread across Iran, representing one of the most significant challenges to the government since 1979.

Iran has confirmed it is maintaining communication with the United States even as it cracks down on nationwide protests that pose one of the most serious challenges to its clerical rule since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The confirmation came as U.S. President Donald Trump said he may meet with Iranian officials and was in contact with the opposition, all while threatening potential military action in response to the violent suppression of demonstrators.

The protests, which began on December 28, have swept across the country. According to the U.S.-based rights group HRANA, the crackdown has been severe. The group reports it has verified the deaths of 572 people, including 503 protesters and 69 security personnel, along with 10,694 arrests.

Protests Escalate Amid Internet Blackout

An internet blackout imposed since Thursday has significantly hampered the flow of information out of Iran, making independent verification of casualty figures difficult.

The demonstrations initially erupted over severe economic hardships but quickly evolved into calls for the end of the current clerical establishment. Despite the scale of the unrest, there are no clear signs of division among Iran's leadership, military, or security forces. The opposition remains fragmented, and the protesters lack any central leadership.

In one verified video, Iranians were seen at Tehran’s Kahrizak Forensic Centre on Sunday, standing over rows of body bags. While the Iranian government has not released an official death toll, it has blamed the violence on interference from the United States and what it terms Israeli- and U.S.-backed terrorists. State media has focused its coverage on the deaths of security forces.

On Monday, Iran's Ministry of Intelligence announced via state media that it had detained "terrorist" teams it held responsible for killing paramilitary volunteers, burning mosques, and attacking military sites.

Tehran Confirms Open Channel with Washington

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described "contradictory messages" from the U.S. as a sign of a lack of seriousness but confirmed that contacts are ongoing. "The communication channel between our Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and the U.S. special envoy (Steve Witkoff) is open and messages are exchanged whenever necessary," he stated, adding that communication also continues through Switzerland, a traditional intermediary.

In a briefing to foreign ambassadors, Araqchi stated that Iran was prepared for war but also open to dialogue.

Tehran has also ramped up diplomatic pressure on European nations. On Monday, the ambassadors of Britain, Italy, Germany, and France were summoned to the foreign ministry, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. They were asked to convey Tehran's demand that their governments withdraw support for the protests, which Iran considers "unacceptable intervention in the internal security of the country." A French diplomatic source confirmed the ambassadors expressed their strong concerns during the meeting.

Trump Signals Potential Meeting as US Weighs Options

President Trump told reporters on Sunday that Iran had called to negotiate its nuclear program. "Iran wants to negotiate, yes. We might meet with them," he said. "A meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what is happening before the meeting."

A U.S. official confirmed that Trump was scheduled to meet with senior advisers on Tuesday to discuss a range of options for responding to the situation in Iran. According to The Wall Street Journal, these options include:

• Military strikes

• Deployment of secret cyber weapons

• Widening economic sanctions

• Providing online support to anti-government groups

Striking military installations carries high risks, as some are located in densely populated areas.

Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a former commander in the Revolutionary Guards, warned Washington against any "miscalculation." He stated, "Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (Israel) as well as all U.S. bases and ships will be our legitimate target."

Economic Hardship Fuels Widespread Unrest

The protests are rooted in public anger over soaring prices and worsening economic conditions. This resentment has increasingly targeted the powerful Revolutionary Guards, whose vast business empire spans oil, gas, construction, and telecommunications and is valued at billions of dollars.

Addressing a crowd in Tehran's Enqelab Square on Monday, Qalibaf claimed Iranians were fighting a "war on four fronts"—an economic war, psychological warfare, a military war against the U.S. and Israel, and a war against terrorism.

Iranian officials have detailed extensive property damage. Foreign Minister Araqchi claimed on Monday that a total of 53 mosques and 180 ambulances had been set on fire since the protests erupted. Verified CCTV footage from Abuzar Mosque in Tehran showed masked individuals ransacking the building last week. State media reported the mosque was set ablaze on January 9.

Despite the ongoing turmoil, Araqchi asserted on Monday that the situation was "under total control" and that internet service would be restored in coordination with security authorities.