US President Donald Trump said the Iranian leadership called to seek talks with Washington in the face of his threats of military action in response to Tehran’s brutal crackdown of mass anti-government protests.
“The leaders of Iran called,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on January 11. He added that “a meeting is being set up…They want to negotiate.”
However, “we may have to act before a meeting,” he added without being specific.
Trump earlier said he and the US military were studying options in Iran in efforts to support protesters amid unconfirmed reports that more than 500 people have been killed in a crackdown on anti-government demonstrations over the past 15 days.
“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump ‌told reporters, adding that he was in contact with Iranian opposition leaders, also without discussing specifics.
Tehran did not immediately comment on Trump’s remarks
The United States and other Western nations have condemned the government’s crackdown on protesters and previously placed sanctions on Tehran for what they say is an attempt to develop nuclear weapons, which Iran denies.
Trump To Get Options On January 13
Trump’s comments came after US media reported that the US leader had been briefed on options to respond to the harsh security crackdown on protests in Iran.
His remarks appear to confirm the reports by Axios, The New York Times, and Wall Street Journal, among others, that stated he was considering several options for supporting the protests in Iran.
The Journal reported that specific options would be presented to the president on January 13.
Possible next steps could include military strikes, deploying secretive cyber weapons against Iranian military, and placing more sanctions on Iran’s government, the Journal added.
The developments came as rights groups and government media reported protests, arrests, and violence in dozens of towns and cities in Iran on January 11, with demonstrations entering a third week in the face of mounting pressure from security forces.
The potential for violence appeared to increase after the government called on its supporters to participate in nationwide rallies on January 12 to condemn what it called the “terrorist actions by the United States and Israel.”
The Human Rights News Agency (HRANA) — an organization of Iranian activists based in the United States — said on January 11 that 544 people had been killed in the protests over the past 15 days.
HRANA said at least 10,061 people have been arrested and that demonstrations were reported in 585 locations across 186 towns and cities in all 31 provinces.
The numbers could not be independently verified as information was difficult to attain amid an almost total shutdown of the Internet in the country. Phones services have also been restricted.
Rights groups say that Iran’s digital blackout is part of an effort to mask state violence during the security crackdown.
In the past week, Trump has issued a series of stern warnings, saying the United States was “watching the situation very carefully” and insisting authorities refrain from killing protesters.
“Iran is in big trouble. It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago,” Trump told a White House meeting on January 9.
Trump’s comments were met with explicit support from former Iranian crown prince and opposition figure Reza Pahlavi.
“President Trump, as the leader of the free world, has closely observed your indescribable bravery and has declared that he is ready to help you,” Pahlavi said in a video address released on January 11.
“The world today stands with your national revolution and admires your courage,” he added.
UN, EU Condemn Iranian Crackdown
The UN, EU, and Western governments have also expressed their support for the Iranian protest movement.
UN chief Antonio Guterres on January 11 said he was “shocked” by reports of violence against protesters and called on the government to exhibit restraint and “refrain from unnecessary or disproportionate use of force.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she is ready to propose new sanctions on Tehran in response to the crackdown on protesters.
“The EU already has sweeping sanctions in place on Iran — on those responsible for human rights abuses, nuclear proliferation activities, and Tehran’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine,” Kallas said in an interview with the German newspaper Die Welt.
‘War Scenes’ In Tehran
A man who witnessed a crackdown on protests in eastern Tehran told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda late on January 10 that the repression of demonstrations has escalated sharply, describing the situation in the city as resembling “war scenes.”
The man, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, said the continuous sound of pellet-gun fire has been heard across the Iranian capital in recent nights, while drones have been flying constantly over neighborhoods to monitor streets and alleyways.
Triggered by soaring prices, high inflation, and a plunging national currency, the unrest has emerged as the most serious challenge to the Islamic republic in years.
Iranians President Masud Pezeshkian speaks during an interview with state TV amid protests in Tehran.
Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian has blamed the unrest on foreign-linked “terrorists,” accusing the United States and Israel of seeking to “sow chaos and disorder” in the country.
“If the people have concerns, it is our duty to resolve their concerns, but the higher duty is that we must not allow a group of rioters to come and disrupt the entire society,” he said in a televised speech on January 11.
With reporting by Axios, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal