On this body seize from footage circulating on social media exhibits protesters dancing and cheering round a bonfire as they take to the streets regardless of an intensifying crackdown because the Islamic Republic stays reduce off from the remainder of the world, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.
AP/UGC
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AP/UGC
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. President Donald Trump stated Iran needs to barter with Washington after his menace to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a transfer coming as activists stated Monday the loss of life toll within the nationwide demonstrations rose to at the least 544.
Iran had no fast response to the information, which got here after the international minister of Oman — lengthy an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It additionally stays unclear simply what Iran might promise, significantly as Trump has set strict calls for over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is essential for its nationwide protection.
Iranian International Minister Abbas Araghchi, talking to international diplomats in Tehran, insisted “the situation has come under total control” in fiery remarks that blamed Israel and the U.S. for the violence, with out providing proof.
“That’s why the demonstrations turned violent and bloody to give an excuse to the American president to intervene,” Araghchi stated, in feedback carried by the Qatar-funded Al Jazeera satellite tv for pc information community. Al Jazeera has been allowed to report from contained in the nation reside regardless of the web being shut off.
In the meantime Monday, Iran known as for pro-government demonstrators to move to the streets in help of the theocracy, a present of drive after days of protests instantly difficult the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state tv aired chants from the gang, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”
Trump acknowledges proposal for talks
Trump and his nationwide safety group have been weighing a variety of potential responses in opposition to Iran together with cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, based on two individuals acquainted with inside White Home discussions who weren’t licensed to remark publicly and spoke on situation of anonymity.
“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump instructed reporters on Air Power One on Sunday evening. Requested about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he stated: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”
Trump stated that his administration was in talks to arrange a gathering with Tehran, however cautioned that he might should act first as studies of the loss of life toll in Iran mount and the federal government continues to arrest protesters.
“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump stated. “Iran wants to negotiate.”
He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”
Iran via nation’s parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. army and Israel could be “legitimate targets” if America makes use of drive to guard demonstrators.
Greater than 10,600 individuals even have been detained over the 2 weeks of protests, stated the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists Information Company, which has been correct in earlier unrest lately and gave the loss of life toll. It depends on supporters in Iran crosschecking data. It stated 496 of the lifeless had been protesters and 48 had been with safety forces.
With the web down in Iran and telephone traces reduce off, gauging the demonstrations from overseas has grown harder. The Related Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s authorities has not supplied total casualty figures.
These overseas worry the data blackout is emboldening hard-liners inside Iran’s safety providers to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets within the nation’s capital and its second-largest metropolis on Saturday evening into Sunday morning. On-line movies purported to indicate extra demonstrations Sunday evening into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.
Worry pervades Iran’s capital
In Tehran, a witness instructed the AP that the streets of the capital empty on the sundown name to prayers every evening. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are abandoned.
A part of that stems from the worry of getting caught within the crackdown. Police despatched the general public a textual content message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”
One other textual content, which claimed to come back from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, additionally instantly warned individuals not to participate in demonstrations.
“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, … refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the textual content warned.
The witness spoke to the AP on situation of anonymity because of the ongoing crackdown.
The demonstrations started Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial forex, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, because the nation’s financial system is squeezed by worldwide sanctions partly levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls instantly difficult Iran’s theocracy.
