Trump Says Iran “Wants to Negotiate” Amid Rising Protests and Reported Deaths

US President Donald Trump revealed that Iran’s leadership has reached out to seek negotiations, amid violent protests sweeping across the country. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said, “The leaders of Iran called,” adding that “a meeting is being set up,” but warned that Washington “may have to act before a meeting.”

The unrest in Iran has entered its second week, initially ignited by rising living costs but quickly growing into a broader challenge to the theocratic system in place since the 1979 revolution. Despite strict internet blackouts, images, videos, and eyewitness accounts have continued to surface, showing large demonstrations in Tehran and other cities.

Rights organizations are raising alarms over the human cost of the crackdown. The US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran reported receiving credible information suggesting hundreds of protesters may have been killed. Meanwhile, Norway-based Iran Human Rights has confirmed at least 192 deaths, noting that the actual toll could be far higher. Estimates indicate more than 2,600 people have been arrested.

Daily life in Tehran has been severely disrupted. Many shops remain closed, and security forces are heavily deployed across the city, even as state media portrays a sense of returning calm. Iranian authorities have stood firm against foreign pressure. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that US military assets and shipping could be considered “legitimate targets” if Washington intervenes.

These protests mark one of the most serious internal challenges in years for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, coming on the heels of increased regional tensions following Israel’s conflict with Iran in June.

At its heart, this is a story about people longing for change, for voices to be heard in a system that has remained largely unchallenged for decades. Beyond the political headlines, these are real individuals risking their lives to express frustration, hope, and a desire for a better future. As the world watches, their courage reminds us of the human face behind the news—a reminder that each statistic represents a person, a family, a community.