President Donald Trump has signalled he is actively considering how to respond to the escalating crisis in Iran, huddling with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday after a surprise overture from Tehran. This comes against a backdrop of a violent domestic crackdown that has left hundreds dead.
Diplomatic Overture Amid Threats of Force
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump revealed that Iranian leadership initiated contact over the weekend, expressing a desire for new nuclear negotiations. This follows the president's stark warnings that the US would act if the regime hurt protesters.
However, Trump cautioned that military action could precede any diplomatic meeting if conditions in Iran deteriorate further. "A meeting is being set up," Trump stated, but warned, "We may have to act before a meeting." The president confirmed he is receiving hourly intelligence updates as his administration weighs its next move.
Economic Implosion Fuels Widespread Unrest
The current wave of protests was ignited by a severe economic collapse. The Iranian Rial has plunged to a historic low of 1.45 million per US dollar, rendering the currency nearly worthless and driving inflation above 70%. This turmoil arrives six months after the US-Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities during Operation ‘Midnight Hammer’ in June 2025, which the Trump administration claimed significantly degraded capabilities at Fordow and Natanz.
Verified video evidence from Sunday shows citizens gathered at the Kahrizak Forensic Centre in Tehran, standing over long rows of dark body bags. Since the nationwide demonstrations began on December 28, the US-based human rights organisation HRANA reports it has confirmed 544 fatalities, comprising 496 protesters and 48 security officers. The group also notes that 10,681 people have been detained.
A Nation Cut Off and Calling for Help
Iran remains largely cut off from the global internet, though some citizens connected briefly via Starlink or other methods. Speaking to the Daily Mail, one protester described scenes of people fighting under the lion and sun flag with the slogan 'Javid Shah'. "The regime is using real guns and bullets… my friend got shot in the stomach. We are hoping for US and Israeli intervention. Without them we cannot succeed," he said.
Another Iranian texted: "They shut the internet down so that the world can't see their brutality. We are being murdered by our own government." In response to the violence, the Iranian government has declared three days of state-mandated mourning, which state media dedicates to those slain by what it calls 'urban terrorist criminals'—a likely reference to security forces.
Iran's official narrative blames 'Israeli-US interference' for the unrest. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf issued a stark warning on Sunday, stating that any US military action would make "both US and Israeli military bases" legitimate targets for retaliation. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed a communication channel with the US special envoy remains open.
