Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has said Tehran is willing to negotiate with the United States over its nuclear programme on the basis of respect, as nationwide anti-regime protests enter their 16th day. His comments came as US President Donald Trump claimed a meeting between the two countries was being arranged, while threatening “very strong” military action.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said Iran had reached out and wanted to negotiate, but suggested the meeting could be derailed by the crackdown on protesters. Asked whether Iran's leaders had crossed a red line, he replied: “It looks like it. There seems to be some people killed who weren't supposed to be killed.” Estimates of the protest death toll range from 300 to 3,000.
Direct contacts have taken place between Araghchi and Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, focusing on averting a potential US attack and the status of Iran's nuclear programme. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, said communication lines remained open but described US messages as “often contradictory”.
Trump said the military was examining “a couple options”, with a strategy meeting on Iran due within 24 hours. He also planned to speak with Elon Musk about restoring internet service in Iran, where authorities have blacked out access for four days, potentially using Starlink.
Briefing foreign diplomats in Tehran, Araghchi insisted the situation in Iran was “under total control” and called Trump's support for protests “interference in the internal affairs of countries”. He reiterated that Iran would only engage in talks on the basis of respect, a stance maintained since US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear installations last June.
The claims of potential talks point to debate within the Iranian government, which is widely seen as needing sanctions lifted to address the economic grievances fuelling the protests. However, there has been no sign that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei or the hardline-dominated parliament endorse negotiations. At a regime-organised rally, hardline speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called Trump delusional, while reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian did not address the crowds. Araghchi met Oman's foreign minister, Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi, a key mediator, on Saturday.
