The United States has warned it could intervene against Iran following the killing of anti-government protesters, as President Donald Trump revealed that Iranian leaders have reached out to him seeking negotiations. Speaking on Sunday, Trump said Iran’s leadership “wants to negotiate,” but cautioned that Washington “may have to act before a meeting” takes place.
While Trump did not specify what action the US is considering, he confirmed that the administration is reviewing “very strong options.” According to a US official cited by the BBC’s American partner CBS, Trump has been briefed on potential military strike plans against Iran. Other measures under discussion reportedly include expanding cyber operations against Iran’s military, increasing support for anti-government voices online, and imposing tougher economic sanctions, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Iran has responded with stark warnings. The speaker of Iran’s parliament said that any US attack would make both Israel and American military and shipping facilities in the region legitimate targets, sharply raising fears of a broader Middle East conflict.
Protests Turn Political as Death Toll Mounts
The unrest in Iran began as protests over soaring inflation and economic hardship but has since evolved into calls for an end to the clerical system led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iranian authorities have taken a hardline stance, with the country’s attorney general declaring that protesters would be treated as “enemies of God” — a charge that can carry the death penalty.
Khamenei has dismissed demonstrators as “vandals” acting to “please” President Trump.
On Sunday, Iranian state media announced three days of national mourning for what it described as “martyrs killed in Iran’s national battle against the US and Israel.”
Medical workers have painted a grim picture of the violence. Hospital staff told the BBC they have been overwhelmed by the number of dead and injured protesters. BBC Persian verified that at least 70 bodies were brought to a hospital in the northern city of Rasht in a single night. A health worker in Tehran reported around 38 deaths, many caused by direct gunshot wounds to the head and chest, adding that several victims died before they could even be treated.
Information Blackout and Disturbing Footage
International journalists, including the BBC, are unable to report freely from inside Iran. Since Thursday, the government has imposed a near-total internet shutdown, severely limiting the flow of information and making independent verification difficult.
Despite the blackout, disturbing footage has emerged. Videos from the Forensic Diagnostic and Laboratory Center of Tehran Province in Kahrizak show rows of body bags, with around 180 shrouded bodies visible, many laid out in the open. Cries of anguish can be heard from people believed to be searching for missing relatives. The footage has been deliberately blurred to protect the identities of survivors who could face further reprisals from Iranian authorities.
As diplomatic signals mix with military threats, the crisis highlights the growing volatility between Washington and Tehran, with the fate of Iran’s protesters and regional stability hanging in the balance.
