Iran Mentions "Possibility of Nuclear Negotiations" Amid Trump’s "Military Option" Pressure

Iran Threatens U.S. Bases if U.S. Intervenes, Then Softens Rhetoric After Trump’s Military Option Remarks
White House: "Diplomacy Is the Priority, but Airstrikes Remain an Option"

Iran, which had previously threatened to attack all U.S. military bases across the country if the United States intervened, has now lowered the tone of its rhetoric by mentioning the possibility of resuming nuclear negotiations with the United States. This shift is seen as a message aimed at easing tensions after President Donald Trump publicly revealed that he was considering a military response in light of the protests in Iran.

UPI Yonhap News

Iran States Willingness to Negotiate if No U.S. Threats... Highlights Communication with Middle East Envoy

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with the Arab broadcaster Al Jazeera on the 12th (local time) that Iran is ready to negotiate with the United States over its nuclear program if there are no threats or orders from the U.S. He added, "We do not believe the United States is prepared to negotiate fairly and justly," but also stated, "If the United States is ready, we will seriously consider this issue."

This represents a much softer stance compared to the previous day (the 11th), when Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that if the United States intervened in Iran, all U.S. military bases, ships, and troops in the region would be targeted. Iran’s change in tone is interpreted as a response to President Trump’s remarks on the 11th, where he said he was "looking at some strong options," suggesting the possibility of military intervention, but also left the door open for dialogue by stating that Iran wants to negotiate. Rather than a simple reversal, it appears that Iran adjusted its rhetoric after observing the U.S. reaction to its strong statements, in an effort to avoid military conflict.

Minister Araghchi also said that Iran had maintained communication with President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff before and after the protests, and regarding the possibility of a direct meeting with Envoy Witkoff, he said, "There are several ideas currently under consideration." He continued, "We have discussed several options with the United States and are currently reviewing them," adding, "The proposals made by the United States and threats against our country cannot coexist." According to the Washington Post, Iran had expressed willingness to return to talks after the 12-day war with Israel last June, but negotiations have stalled as Iran rejected the Trump administration’s demands.

Reuters Yonhap News

White House Aligns with Trump, Prioritizes Diplomacy but Considers Military Options

The Trump administration reiterated on this day that military action is also being considered to resolve the protests in Iran. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, during an impromptu Q&A with reporters at the White House, commented on the situation in Iran, saying, "President Donald Trump is always adept at keeping all options on the table," and "Airstrikes are among the many options available to the Commander-in-Chief, but diplomacy is always the President’s first choice."

Leavitt further stated, "President Trump will not hesitate to use military options if he deems it necessary, and Iran knows this better than anyone." These remarks from the White House confirm that President Trump’s suggestions of a military response are not merely rhetoric but are actually under consideration.

In fact, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that President Trump is leaning toward approving military action against Iran. However, President Trump has not yet made a final decision and is scheduled to meet with senior advisers on the 13th to determine a course of action. According to the WSJ, options under consideration by the Trump administration include military strikes on key Iranian regime facilities, cyberattacks, approval of new sanctions, and expanded support for anti-government online accounts. In this regard, some senior advisers, including Vice President J.D. Vance, advocate for pursuing diplomacy with Iran first, while there are also internal concerns that U.S. military action could reinforce the Iranian regime’s claims that the United States and Israel are behind the anti-government protests.

Leavitt also conveyed that "President Trump said last night to you (the press) that 'what the Iranian regime says publicly and the private messages it sends to the Trump administration are quite different,'" indicating that President Trump is reviewing this. These remarks suggest that even though the Iranian government has made strong public criticisms of the United States, it has continued behind-the-scenes contacts with the Trump administration to maintain communication.

Leavitt further stated that President Trump had spoken with Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who operates the satellite internet network Starlink, regarding internet use in Iran. Iranian authorities, citing protest suppression, have deployed military-grade jamming equipment to block access to Starlink.

Reuters Yonhap News

Protest Death Toll Surpasses 600... Human Rights Abuses Widen

As of the 16th day of protests, at least 600 protesters have been confirmed dead. Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), based in the United States, estimated that as of the 11th, a total of 646 people had died, including 505 protesters, 113 soldiers and security personnel, and 7 bystanders, and stated that it is investigating an additional 579 reported deaths. Reuters pointed out that while Iran has not officially announced the number of deaths caused by the protests, it attributes the bloodshed to U.S. intervention and to terrorists supported by Israel and the United States, and that Iranian state media focuses only on the number of security forces killed.