Washington/Tehran, January 12, 2026 – In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that Iran has expressed a desire to negotiate amid nationwide anti-government protests.Despite the potential for talks, Trump maintained a hardline stance, warning that the United States is weighing “very strong options” to stop the crackdown on Iranian demonstrators.+1
Negotiations vs. Action “The leaders of Iran called yesterday. They want to negotiate. I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. However, he emphasized that a meeting is being arranged but hinted at the possibility of military intervention before talks take place, citing the worsening situation on the ground. Human rights groups now estimate the death toll from the 15-day-old protests has surpassed 544.
The Threat to U.S. Bases When questioned about the Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf’s warning that U.S. bases and Israel would be “legitimate targets,” Trump issued a chilling response. “If they do that, we’ll consider things that they wouldn’t believe. We will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before,” the President stated.
Restoring Internet Trump also revealed that his administration is in discussions with billionaire Elon Musk to potentially use Starlink to restore internet services in Iran, which have been blacked out by the regime. “We may speak to Elon Musk; I am going to call him,” Trump added, signaling a new front in the “maximum pressure” campaign
