Dubai, United Arab Emirates — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran has signaled a willingness to negotiate with Washington following his warning that the United States could strike the Islamic Republic over its violent suppression of nationwide protests.
Activist groups say at least 599 people have been killed during weeks of demonstrations across Iran, sparked by public anger toward the ruling clerical establishment. Iranian authorities have not directly responded to Trump’s remarks.
The comments came shortly after the foreign minister of Oman, a long-time diplomatic intermediary between Tehran and Washington, visited Iran over the weekend. Despite this outreach, uncertainty remains over what concessions Iran could offer, especially as Trump has imposed strict conditions related to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and ballistic missile program. Tehran says both are essential to its national defense.
Speaking to foreign diplomats in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed the unrest was fully under control. He accused Israel and the United States of fueling the violence, though he provided no evidence to support the claim.
Araghchi argued that the demonstrations were deliberately pushed toward bloodshed to justify possible U.S. intervention. His remarks were carried by Al Jazeera, which has continued reporting from inside Iran despite widespread internet shutdowns. At the same time, he said Iran remained open to diplomacy, while officials stressed that any talks must be based on mutual interests rather than unilateral demands.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of pro-government supporters rallied in the streets on Monday in a show of force backing the Islamic Republic. State television aired footage of crowds chanting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans, along with religious denunciations of protesters.
The unrest represents one of the most serious challenges in years to Iran’s leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran’s attorney general has warned that participation in the protests could lead to charges of being an “enemy of God,” an offense that carries the death penalty under Iranian law.
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