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3. Trump Says Iran Wants to "Negotiate"

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran’s leadership had called him seeking “to negotiate” after he repeatedly threatened to intervene militarily if Tehran killed protesters. He added, however, that the U.S. "may have to act before a meeting.”

Trump has not elaborated on what the U.S. is considering, but said on Sunday that “we’re looking at some very strong options.” He has been briefed on potential military strikes against Iran. According to the Wall Street Journal, officials say other options under consideration include amplifying anti-government voices online, deploying cyberweapons against Iran’s military, and imposing additional sanctions.

Reportedly, officials told the White House that U.S. troops need to first “consolidate military positions and prepare defenses” before undertaking any operations that could escalate into a broader conflict. The warnings reflect concerns over both operational readiness and regional stability.

President Trump also revealed that he is in contact with Iranian opposition leaders.

Iran Responds

On Monday, Iran confimred that it is in contact with the U.S. side. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Bakai said at a weekly press conference that the line of contact with the U.S. remains open. 

At the same time, he criticized the U.S. and Israel, accusing the two countries of interfering in the protests. “American and Zionist intervention is aimed at stirring up chaos in the country,” he said. 

Iran has warned it would retaliate if attacked by the U.S., with the speaker of parliament saying that any such strike would make both Israel and U.S. military bases and shipping hubs in the region legitimate targets.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to foreign diplomats in Tehran on Monday, insisted “the situation has come under total control” in remarks that blamed Israel and the U.S. for the violence, without offering evidence. “That’s why the demonstrations turned violent and bloody to give an excuse to the American president to intervene,” Araghchi said.

He added, "Tehran does not want war, but it is fully prepared for it.”

Israel Reacts to Unrest

Israel is “closely monitoring” the fallout from widespread Iranian protests, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday. “The people of Israel, the entire world, are in awe of the tremendous heroism of the citizens of Iran,” Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting. He condemned the killing of civilians and said he hoped to rebuild relations between Israel and Iran once the country was “freed from the yoke of tyranny.”

The Israeli military said the protests in Iran are an “internal Iranian matter,” but that the military “will be equipped to respond with power if need be.”

Reportedly, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed ministers not to talk about possible external interference in Iran, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported on Monday. 

Death Toll Rises Sharply

At least 538 people have reportedly been killed in the violence surrounding demonstrations, including 490 protesters. More than 10,600 people were arrested by Iranian authorities.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian pledged to overhaul Iran’s struggling economy, saying his government is “ready to listen to its people”, while accusing the United States and Israel of trying to “sow chaos and disorder” by directing elements of the unrest.

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled scion of Iran's toppled Shah, called on Iranians on Saturday to "seize city centres and hold them," as well as urging a nationwide strike.  “Our goal is no longer merely to come into the streets; the goal is readiness to seize city centres and to hold them.” said U.S.-based Pahlavi, in an appeal posted to X. 

He also called on "workers and employees in key sectors of the economy especially transportation, and oil, and gas and energy" to begin a nationwide strike.