US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Iran leadership had made contact to “negotiate” amid escalating anti-government protests across the Islamic Republic. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said “a meeting is being set up,” while warning that the United States “may have to act before a meeting.”
Read More: Protests persist as Iran warns US, Israel of strikes if attacked
Trump has repeatedly signaled that Washington could intervene if force is used against demonstrators, describing the unrest as the largest challenge to Iranian authorities in years. Iran’s government has not provided an official casualty count, and tallies from rights groups could not be independently verified by Reuters.
⚠️ Update: #Iran‘s internet shutdown is entering its fourth day with connectivity to the outside world remains at just 1% of ordinary levels; at 72 hours, diminished telecoms continue to impact the public’s ability to access information and communicate with loved ones ⏱️ pic.twitter.com/UOGSVMoZJj
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) January 11, 2026
The protests, which began on December 28 over rising prices, have since broadened into a wider political confrontation against the state. In Tehran, an AFP journalist reported a city in near paralysis, with shops closing early and security forces deploying in large numbers.
The demonstrations come months after a brief war between Israel and Iran, and present a significant test for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. State television has aired images of burning buildings and funerals for security personnel, while insisting that calm is gradually returning.
Authorities declared three days of national mourning for security forces killed and urged participation in a “national resistance march” to denounce violence. Tehran Governor Mohammad-Sadegh Motamedian claimed the number of protests was decreasing.
In response to Trump’s warnings, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the country would retaliate, calling US military assets and shipping “legitimate targets.” Trump also said he would consult entrepreneur Elon Musk about potentially restoring internet connectivity via SpaceX’s Starlink service amid an ongoing blackout in Iran.
Read More: Iran protests spark Trump’s stark threat
Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran’s ousted shah, urged government employees and security forces to side with protesters. He also called for the replacement of Islamic Republic flags at Iranian embassies with the pre-revolution tricolour, an emblem of global demonstrations supporting the movement.