US President Donald Trump revealed that Iran’s leadership has reached out to seek negotiations, as nationwide protests in the country enter a second week. The demonstrations, initially sparked by rising living costs, have grown into a broader challenge to Iran’s theocratic system that has ruled since the 1979 revolution.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said, “The leaders of Iran called, and a meeting is being set up,” while adding a caution that Washington “may have to act before a meeting.”
Despite a prolonged internet shutdown designed to limit information flow, reports and videos from Tehran and other cities continue to surface, showing large gatherings of protesters demanding change.
Rights organizations have warned that the crackdown has been deadly. The US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran reported credible information suggesting that hundreds of protesters may have been killed. Meanwhile, Norway-based Iran Human Rights confirmed at least 192 deaths, cautioning that the actual number could be significantly higher.
Authorities have also detained thousands. Iran Human Rights estimates that over 2,600 individuals have been arrested, as security forces maintain a heavy presence across major cities. Daily life in Tehran has been severely disrupted, with shops closed and streets tightly monitored, even as state media projects an image of calm.
Iranian officials have resisted international pressure, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warning that US military assets and shipping routes would be treated as “legitimate targets” if Washington intervenes.
These protests mark one of the most serious internal challenges to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in years, occurring just months after heightened tensions in the region following Israel’s war with Iran in June.
While the world watches and leaders discuss next steps, the human cost remains heavy. Families mourn lost loved ones, communities grapple with fear, and ordinary citizens continue to risk everything to voice their desire for change. Behind the headlines are real lives, real struggles, and the enduring hope that dialogue might one day bring peace.
