Iran said on Monday that it is keeping communication channels open with the United States, even as U.S. President Donald Trump considers possible responses to Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests. These protests are seen as one of the biggest challenges to Iran’s clerical leadership since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

President Trump said on Sunday that the United States may meet Iranian officials and that he is in contact with opposition groups. At the same time, he warned Iran’s leaders and said military action could be possible if violence against protesters continues.

Iran has faced protests before and has used crackdowns to control them. However, this time the demonstrations have spread across the country. What began as protests against severe economic problems has now turned into open calls for the fall of the clerical establishment. Iran’s influence in the region has also weakened during this period.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, “The communication channel between our Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and the U.S. special envoy (Steve Witkoff) is open and messages are exchanged whenever necessary.” He added that contacts also remain open through Switzerland, which traditionally acts as an intermediary between Iran and the U.S.

Baghaei said the U.S. had raised some issues and shared ideas, adding, “The Islamic Republic is a country that never left the negotiating table.” However, he also said that “contradictory messages” from the United States showed a lack of seriousness and were not convincing.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told foreign ambassadors in Tehran that Iran was prepared for war but was also open to dialogue.

According to U.S.-based human rights group HRANA, at least 490 protesters and 48 security personnel have been killed since the protests began on December 28. More than 10,600 people have been arrested. Iran has not released official figures, and Reuters could not independently verify these numbers. Information from Iran has been limited due to an internet blackout that has been in place since Thursday.

Trump said on Sunday that Iran had contacted the U.S. to negotiate over its nuclear programme. He reminded reporters that Israel and the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day war in June. Trump said, “Iran wants to negotiate, yes. We might meet with them. A meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what is happening before the meeting, but a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”

A U.S. official told Reuters that Trump is expected to meet senior advisers on Tuesday to discuss options on Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported that these options could include military strikes, cyber operations, expanding sanctions, and providing online support to anti-government groups.

Military strikes could be very risky, as some elite military and security bases are located in densely populated areas, raising the risk of civilian casualties. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned the U.S. against making a “miscalculation.” He said, “Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (Israel) as well as all U.S. bases and ships will be our legitimate target.”

Iran is still recovering from last year’s war, and its regional influence has weakened due to losses suffered by its allies, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, since the October 7, 2023, attacks against Israel. During the June war, Israel also killed senior Iranian military commanders.

Iranian authorities accused the U.S. and Israel of stirring unrest and called for nationwide rallies on Monday to condemn what they called “terrorist actions led by the United States and Israel,” according to state media. State television showed live footage of funeral processions for security personnel killed in Shahrud and pro-government demonstrations in cities such as Kerman, Zahedan, and Birjand. These gatherings were held “in condemnation of recent terrorist events.”

Araqchi said the situation in Iran was “under total control” after violence linked to protests increased over the weekend. He said Trump’s warning of action if protests turned bloody had encouraged what he called terrorists to target both protesters and security forces in order to invite foreign intervention.

The protests began due to rising prices, but later turned into protests against the clerical rulers who have governed Iran for more than 45 years. Many Iranians are increasingly angry with the Revolutionary Guards, whose business interests in sectors like oil, gas, construction, and telecommunications are worth billions of dollars.

Videos shared on social media on Saturday showed large crowds marching at night in Tehran, clapping and chanting. In one video, a man is heard saying, “The crowd has no end nor beginning.”

Trump also said on Sunday that he would speak to Elon Musk about restoring internet access in Iran through the Starlink satellite service. Araqchi said internet services would be restored in coordination with security authorities.

On Sunday, Iranian authorities announced three days of national mourning “in honour of martyrs killed in resistance against the United States and the Zionist regime,” according to state media.

Alan Eyre, a former U.S. diplomat and Iran expert, said it was unlikely that the protests would overthrow the government. He said, “I think it more likely that it puts these protests down eventually, but emerges from the process far weaker,” adding that Iran’s elite still appeared united and there was no organised opposition.