U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s leadership has reached out to him seeking negotiations, amid growing international concern over reports that hundreds of protesters have been killed during ongoing unrest across the country.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday aboard Air Force One, Trump said Iranian leaders contacted him after he issued repeated warnings against the killing of demonstrators.
“The leaders of Iran called yesterday,” Trump said. “A meeting is being set up. They want to negotiate.”
However, he added a strong warning, noting that the United States may still take action before any talks take place if the situation continues to deteriorate.
Iran Protests Enter Third Week
Iran has been gripped by nationwide protests for more than two weeks, despite an intense security crackdown that human rights groups warn has escalated into widespread violence.
The demonstrations initially began over rising living costs, fuel prices, and economic hardship. Over time, the protests evolved into a broader challenge to Iran’s theocratic political system, which has been in place since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Internet Shutdown Fails to Silence Protests
Despite a days-long nationwide internet shutdown, information and videos have continued to emerge from Iran. Footage circulating online shows large crowds gathering in Tehran and other major cities over several consecutive nights.
As reports of deaths increased, international human rights organizations raised alarm over the scale of the crackdown.
Human Rights Groups Report Rising Death Toll
The U.S.-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said it had received eyewitness accounts and credible reports suggesting that hundreds of protesters may have been killed during the internet blackout.
“A massacre is unfolding,” CHRI said in a statement.
Similarly, Iran Human Rights (IHR), a Norway-based NGO, confirmed the deaths of at least 192 protesters, while warning that the actual number could be significantly higher.
“Unverified reports indicate that several hundreds, and according to some sources, more than 2,000 people may have been killed,” IHR stated.
The group also estimates that more than 2,600 protesters have been arrested since the demonstrations began.
Disturbing Footage Emerges
A video circulating on Sunday showed dozens of bodies outside a morgue in Kahrizak, south of Tehran. The footage, later geolocated by international media organizations, appeared to show grieving relatives searching for missing loved ones.
Growing Global Pressure on Iran
As the death toll rises, pressure continues to mount on Iran’s leadership from the international community. Trump’s remarks suggest that diplomatic discussions may be on the table, though tensions remain high and the situation on the ground remains volatile.
The unfolding crisis has renewed global debates over human rights, protest suppression, and international intervention in Iran.
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