Iranian officials said on Jan. 12 that the country is prepared for war but also open to dialogue with the United States, as PresidentDonald Trumpcontinues his threats to intervene amid a violent government-led crackdown on protesters.
In a briefing to foreign ambassadors in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the country is "not looking for war," but is prepared for it, according tomultiplemedia reportsof the address.
The comments come a day after Trump said he isweighing military options against Iran.
Anti-government protestshave reached their third week, after soaring prices and the collapse of the Iranian rial sparked mass demonstrations in late December. Human rights and international monitoring groups have tracked the protests across the nation's major cities and in dozens of towns across all of its provinces. It is the largest uprising challenging the Islamic Republic's clerical rule since 2022.
Protests in Iran:Here's what to know as Trump warns the nation's leaders
U-Haul truck plows through anti-Iranian regime protesters in LA
Norway-based organizationIran Human Rightssaid on Jan. 11 it has confirmed at least 192 protesters have been killed since the start of the demonstrations. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activist News Agency says it has verified thedeaths of over 500 protestersso far across protests in hundreds of locations. The group said more than 10,600 people have also been transferred to prisons following arrest.
Iran has not provided any official figures. A government-imposedinternet blackouthas cut off much communication with those inside the country since Jan. 8, impeding the flow of information.
Demonstrations in support of the protesters have also cropped up in several international cities in recent days, including in Los Angeles, where adriver plowed a U-Haul truckinto a large crowd on Jan. 11.
Araqchi claimed the protests were "under total control" and said Trump's comments warning the U.S. could step in has motivated what he called terrorists to target protesters and security forces in order to invite foreign intervention.
Trump has repeatedly warned Iran's leaders against killing protesters and has in recent weeks ramped up his threats. On Jan. 11, the president told reporters aboard Air Force One that he isconsidering military action.
"The military is looking at it, and we're looking at some very strong options. We'll make a determination," Trump said.
Trump said Iran's leaders are seeking to negotiate with the U.S. administration and that a meeting has been set up, but that "we may have to act because of what's happening before the meeting."
Trump said that Iran had called to negotiate on its disputed nuclear program.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Jan. 12 contacts between the two nations remain open through their traditional intermediary nation, Switzerland, and that Iran "never left the negotiating table." Baghaei said that the U.S. was showing a lack of seriousness by sending "contradictory messages."
Addressing a large crowd in Tehran's Enqelab Square on Monday, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Iranians fight a war on four fronts: "economic war, psychological warfare, military war against U.S. and Israel, and today war against terrorism."
Araqchi said on Monday, Jan. 12 that a total of 53 mosques and 180 ambulances have been set on fire since protests erupted, adding that "no Iranian would attack a mosque."
Iranian leaders have accused the U.S. and Israel of fomenting the demonstrations.
Contributing: Reuters; Joey Garrison, USA TODAY
Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@usatoday.comand on X @KathrynPlmr. Sign up for her daily politics newsletterhere.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Iran open to talks with US, Trump amid violent response to protests
