Iran has declared its readiness for diplomatic negotiations with the United States, but only under conditions of "mutual respect." This offer comes directly from Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, and is made against a backdrop of intense domestic unrest and stark warnings from US President Donald Trump.
Iran's Dual Stance: Open to Talks, Prepared for War
Addressing a conference of foreign ambassadors in Tehran, a speech broadcast by state television, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented Iran's official position. "The Islamic Republic of Iran is not seeking war but is fully prepared for war," he stated firmly. He immediately followed this by extending an olive branch, saying, "We are also ready for negotiations but these negotiations should be fair, with equal rights and based on mutual respect."
This call for dialogue arrives as the nation grapples with its most significant wave of protests in years. The demonstrations, which began on 28 December, were initially sparked by a collapsing Iranian rial and surging prices that crippled living costs. However, the movement has rapidly evolved, spreading to demand a fundamental upheaval of the government led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
Protests Intensify with Soaring Casualty Figures
The scale of the unrest is vast and the human cost continues to climb. According to the Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), the media arm of a rights group operating in Iran, the death toll has now crossed a grim milestone. At least 544 people have been killed in the past 15 days of protests, a figure that includes eight children. Activists report that the protests have spread to more than 180 cities across every province of the country.
Protesters have taken to the streets, with crowds setting fires and directly challenging the authority of Ayatollah Khamenei through chants of "Death to Khamenei." The unrest has found echoes internationally, with demonstrations in support held in cities like London, where a protestor scaled the Iranian embassy's balcony to replace the national flag with a pre-revolution emblem.
Trump's Warning: 'Action' Could Precede Any Meeting
The Iranian offer for talks intersects with a volatile stance from Washington. US President Donald Trump claimed that Iranian leaders had called and expressed a desire to negotiate. However, he issued a severe warning that military action could come before any such meeting takes place.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated, "Iran called, they want to negotiate." He added a critical caveat: "We may have to act before a meeting." The President indicated that the US is prepared to respond if Iranian forces continue their violent crackdown on protesters, confirming that "the military is looking at it, and we're looking at some very strong options." These options are understood to include potential new sanctions and military steps.
The situation presents a complex diplomatic and humanitarian crisis. Iran's government is attempting to project strength and openness simultaneously, while facing unprecedented internal dissent. The United States, meanwhile, is balancing a threat of forceful intervention with an acknowledgment of Iran's outreach, setting the stage for a tense and unpredictable geopolitical standoff centered around the fate of the Iranian protesters.
