War: Iran willing to negotiate with US

Iran has signaled that diplomatic channels remain open with the United States, even as tensions soar following weeks of deadly protests and threats of military action.

Esmail Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in remarks carried by state media and the Iranian Students’ News Agency that communication between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US officials can take place “whenever necessary.” He emphasized that Tehran remains committed to diplomacy but will only engage in bilateral negotiations.

The development follows US President Donald Trump’s assertion that Iranian leaders had contacted Washington to “negotiate,” even as he weighed possible military action against Tehran over its crackdown on anti-government demonstrators. Trump cautioned that the US “may have to act before a meeting,” highlighting the escalating tension.

The unrest in Iran, which began on December 28, was initially sparked by an economic crisis, including rising inflation and a plunging rial, with shopkeepers in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar staging strikes. The protests quickly took on a political dimension, with calls for regime change after nearly five decades of clerical rule.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), at least 495 protesters and 48 security personnel have died nationwide, while more than 10,600 people have been detained since the unrest began. The Iranian government imposed a near-total internet blackout last Friday, further limiting independent reporting on the situation.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has condemned the demonstrations, calling protesters “troublemakers” seeking to “please the president of the US.”