Iran stated Monday it is maintaining open lines of communication with the United States as President Donald Trump considers responses to a crackdown on nationwide protests, representing a significant challenge to clerical rule since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Protests and US Response
Trump said Sunday the US may meet with Iranian officials and is in contact with the Iranian opposition, while simultaneously increasing pressure on Iranian leaders, including threats of potential military action over the violent suppression of protesters.
US-based rights group HRANA reported verifying 599 deaths – 510 protesters and 89 security personnel – since the protests began on December 28th. A total of 10,694 people have been arrested, according to the group. Reuters was unable to independently confirm these figures. Verified video footage showed Iranians at the Kahrizak Forensic Centre in Tehran standing over rows of body bags on Sunday.
Information flow from Iran has been restricted by an internet blackout since Thursday.
Challenges to Iranian Leadership
Iran’s leaders, facing diminished regional influence, are confronting widespread demonstrations that have evolved from economic grievances to demands for the overthrow of the clerical establishment. Despite the scale of the protests, there are no apparent divisions within the Shia clerical leadership, military, or security forces, and the opposition remains fragmented.
Video footage showed Iranians gathered at the Kahrizak Forensic Centre in Tehran on Sunday, observing rows of body bags.
Trump stated Sunday that Iran had contacted the US to negotiate regarding its nuclear program. He noted that a meeting is being scheduled, but indicated potential action may be taken before it occurs, referencing the ongoing situation. Israel and the US conducted a 12-day campaign targeting Iranian nuclear sites in June.
Trump is scheduled to meet with senior advisors Tuesday to discuss options regarding Iran, according to a US official. The Wall Street Journal reported potential options include military strikes, cyber weapons, expanded sanctions, and support for anti-government sources online. Striking military installations carries significant risk due to their potential location in populated areas.
Iran’s Claims and Countermeasures
Iran has not released an official death toll, attributing the violence to US interference and what it describes as Israeli and US-backed terrorists. State-run media has emphasized the deaths of security personnel.
Iran’s ministry of intelligence announced Monday the detention of “terrorist” teams allegedly responsible for acts including the killing of paramilitary volunteers, torching mosques, and attacking military sites, as reported by state media.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said “contradictory messages” from the US suggest a lack of seriousness, but confirmed communication channels remain open. “The communication channel between our foreign minister Abbas Araqchi and the US special envoy [Steve Witkoff] is open and messages are exchanged whenever necessary,” he said, adding that contacts also continue through Switzerland.
Araqchi reiterated in a briefing to foreign ambassadors in Tehran that Iran is prepared for war but also open to dialogue.
The ambassadors of Britain, Italy, Germany, and France were summoned to the foreign ministry Monday and asked to convey Tehran’s request for their governments to withdraw support for the protests, according to semi-official Tasnim news agency. Iran considers any political or media support for the protests an unacceptable intervention in its internal security, Tasnim added. A French diplomatic source confirmed the ambassadors expressed their concerns.
Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf addressed a crowd in Tehran’s Enqelab Square Monday, stating Iranians are fighting a war on four fronts – “economic war, psychological warfare, military war against the US and Israel, and today a war against terrorism”.
Araqchi stated Monday that a total of 53 mosques and 180 ambulances have been set on fire since the protests began.
Qalibaf warned Washington against “a miscalculation,” stating, “Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories [Israel] as well as all US bases and ships will be our legitimate target.”
Tehran is still recovering from last year’s conflicts, and its regional influence has been weakened by setbacks to allies such as Lebanon’s Hizbullah since the October 7th, 2023, attack on Israel. Israel also killed top Iranian military commanders in June.
The protests initially stemmed from rising prices and economic hardship, evolving into broader opposition against the clerical rulers who have governed for over 45 years. Iranians are increasingly critical of the Revolutionary Guards and their extensive business interests.
Araqchi said Monday the situation is “under total control” and that internet service will be restored in coordination with security authorities.
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