US weighs diplomacy before strikes as Iran protests intensify
US weighs diplomacy before strikes as Iran protests intensify
Amid intensifying protests in Iran and rising deaths, US aides urge diplomacy before any military action, while Tehran signals openness to talks on its nuclear program.
Senior aides in the administration, including Vice President J.D. Vance, have urged President Trump to pursue diplomacy before any military action against Iran as Tehran floated talks about its nuclear program. The White House has been weighing that offer while Trump signaled willingness to act if needed, reflecting a high-stakes moment as the crisis deepens.
The death toll from nationwide protests has risen to at least 646, activists say, with the figure expected to rise as more cases are verified. The tally reflects the challenge of documenting casualties across a large country where authorities have restricted information and access for observers. Other tallies have placed the toll in the mid-to-high hundreds, highlighting discrepancies in reporting and the difficulty of verification amid a heavy security response.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised pro-government rallies, calling turnout a warning to the United States as authorities frame the demonstrations as foreign-backed agitation. In Washington, President Trump said Iran has signaled a desire to negotiate, but hinted that the United States may have to act before a scheduled meeting, underscoring the fragile edge between diplomacy and potential strikes.
International voices, including the United Nations, urged restraint and the restoration of internet access as security forces continue a crackdown on demonstrators. The cascading tensions leave the path forward uncertain, with diplomacy and deterrence competing for dominance at a moment when civilian lives are at the center of the crisis.
