Iran says it is ‘prepared for war’ as U.S. weighs ‘very strong options’

Time reports Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told foreign ambassadors on Monday that Iran is “prepared for war” amid nationwide protests, while U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States is considering “very strong options” for intervention. Araghchi said “we are not looking for war, but we are prepared for war—even more prepared than the previous war,” seemingly referring to the U.S.-Iran conflict in June last year, and added Iran is “also ready for negotiations” provided talks are “fair, with equal rights and mutual respect.” He said the situation was “under total control” and claimed the unrest had “turned violent and bloody to give an excuse” for Trump to intervene, though he did not provide evidence.

Trump, speaking during a press gaggle on Air Force One, said “there seemed to be some people killed who aren’t supposed to be killed” and that “the military’s looking at it,” adding a meeting with Iranian leaders “is being set up” while warning the U.S. might “act” before any sit-down.

Protests that began on Dec. 28 have spread across all 31 provinces amid an Internet blackout put in place on Thursday; a doctor told the outlet more than 200 people had been reported dead, and an informal expatriate group estimated deaths could have reached 6,000 through Saturday, though the outlet said it was unable to independently verify those figures.

Key Topics

World, Iran, Abbas Araghchi, Donald Trump, Iran Protests, Internet Blackout