The Media Line: Casualties in Iranian Protests Reach 544, President Trump: ‘Iran Wants To Negotiate’  

Casualties in Iranian Protests Reach 544, President Trump: ‘Iran Wants To Negotiate’  

By The Media Line Staff  

At least 544 people have been killed in Iran’s widening unrest, according to activists tracking the demonstrations, as President Donald Trump said Tehran has signaled it may be ready to talk even while the crackdown intensifies.  

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that most of those killed were protesters, with security forces accounting for several dozen fatalities. More than 10,600 people have been detained over two weeks of protests, though the nationwide internet blackout and phone disruptions have made it increasingly difficult to verify events inside Iran.  

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, President Trump said Iranian officials had reached out to Washington about potential nuclear negotiations.   

He described Iran as weary of confrontation with the United States and added, “Iran wants to negotiate.” He also warned that he may choose to act before any talks occur, saying the military was reviewing “very strong options” in response to the violence. “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before,” he said when asked about Tehran’s threats of retaliation.   

President Trump added that he is receiving updates “every hour” on the situation and plans to speak with Elon Musk about restoring internet access for Iranians.  

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, insisted that Tehran was prepared both “for war – and for dialogue,” while dismissing accounts of lethal force used against demonstrators. He portrayed the initial protests as peaceful and blamed later violence on “armed elements” he said opened fire on both security forces and civilians. Araghchi also said internet service would return once security agencies approved.  

State-linked media in Iran broadcast images of what they described as massive counter-marches calling for stability and denouncing the unrest. Local officials in Tehran acknowledged ongoing demonstrations even as authorities maintain tight restrictions on communication.  

Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s exiled crown prince and a central figure for many protesters, wrote on X: “International support will arrive soon. Freedom is near. We are not alone. Very soon we will reclaim our country from the Islamic Republic. Khamenei and his regime have suffered heavy blows at your hands – we must not allow them a moment to recover.”