Iran has said it is fully prepared for war while remaining open to negotiations, as international concern grows over a violent crackdown on nationwide protests that activists fear has killed hundreds. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the statement after repeated warnings from former US President Donald Trump, who threatened military intervention if Iranian authorities continued killing protesters.

The unrest, now entering its third week, began over economic grievances but has escalated into one of the most serious challenges to Iran’s theocratic system since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Authorities have responded by imposing a near-total internet blackout that has lasted over three-and-a-half days, significantly restricting the flow of information from inside the country.

Trump claimed that Iran’s leadership had reached out seeking negotiations, even as he warned that military action could precede any talks. Iranian officials acknowledged indirect communication channels remain open, with messages exchanged via intermediaries, including Switzerland and Oman, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington.

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Human rights groups report a rapidly rising death toll. Norway-based Iran Human Rights confirmed at least 192 protesters killed but warned the true number could be far higher, potentially reaching into the hundreds or more. Opposition groups allege fatalities exceeding 2,000, while more than 2,600 arrests have reportedly been made across the country.

Graphic videos circulating online, despite the blackout, show bodies piling up outside a morgue south of Tehran, intensifying fears of a large-scale crackdown. Iranian state media, however, maintains that calm is returning, with officials claiming protests are declining and broadcasting images of normal traffic and pro-government rallies.

Adding to the pressure, exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi urged Iran’s security forces and state employees to side with protesters, calling on them to reject what he described as complicity in violence. Demonstrations abroad have also intensified, with symbolic acts such as replacing Iranian embassy flags, highlighting the growing international dimension of Iran’s internal crisis.

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