According to Trump, the Iranian leadership has reached out to Washington requesting negotiations. Meanwhile, the death toll during the protests in Iran is rising.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran reached out to him requesting negotiations after Washington threatened to strike the Islamic Republic in response to the suppression of protests. Activists announced that the death toll has risen to at least 544 people (48 security personnel and 496 demonstrators).
According to a report by the U.S.-based organization Human Rights Activists, more than 10,600 people have been detained during the two weeks of protests.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday evening aboard Air Force One, Trump said, "I think they are tired of being beaten by the United States." "Iran wants to negotiate."
He added, "A meeting is scheduled, but we may have to act because of what is happening before the meeting. But a meeting is scheduled. Iran called; they want to negotiate."
Trump's comments followed his repeated threats of military intervention if Iranian authorities continue their deadly crackdown on demonstrators.
Iran has not yet confirmed the proposal for a meeting, but last week Tehran vowed to take retaliatory measures if Washington intervenes in the situation.
The Islamic Republic warned that American military and Israel would become "legitimate targets" if America uses force to protect the demonstrators.
Responding on Sunday to a question about Iran's threats, Trump said, "If they do that, we will hit them with a force that they have never seen before."
"The military is studying this issue, and we are considering several very strong options," the U.S. president said.
However, analysts believe that the massive deployment of American troops in the Caribbean is a factor that the Pentagon and Trump's national security experts must consider if Washington decides to intervene in the situation in Iran.
According to Trump, his administration is negotiating a meeting with Tehran, but he warned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran multiply and the government continues to arrest protesters.
Protests in Iran began on December 28 due to the collapse of the national currency, which is trading at over 1.4 million for 1 dollar. The country's economy is suffering from international sanctions imposed due to Tehran's nuclear program. Soon, the demonstrations took on a political character: protesters began calling for the removal of Islamic fundamentalists from power.
