Overview
- Rights groups say the nationwide protests have entered a third week with roughly 490+ people killed and more than 10,000 arrested, as authorities restrict internet access.
- President Donald Trump said military options are under review, will meet senior advisers Tuesday to assess responses, and claimed Tehran requested nuclear talks while warning the U.S. may act beforehand.
- Axios reports Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi contacted U.S. envoy Steve Whitcove in recent days, with Tehran publicly declaring it is prepared for war and for dialogue and confirming channels via Swiss mediation.
- The European Union announced it is prepared to propose tougher sanctions over the violent crackdown, citing escalating fatalities and mass detentions.
- Israeli assessments say the unrest is straining Iran’s stability; a former Israeli military intelligence chief said Israel nearly launched strikes on Iran twice recently, underscoring close U.S.-Israeli coordination and escalation risks.