Trump signals openness to Iran deal as Tehran warns of a wider regional war

A familiar standoff, with higher stakes

The language is sharp, the threats are public, and yet the door to diplomacy hasn’t fully closed. US President Donald Trump says he remains hopeful about reaching a deal with Iran, even as Tehran’s top leadership warns that any American military action would ignite a regional war.

The latest exchange comes after weeks of unrest inside Iran and renewed brinkmanship between Washington and Tehran a dynamic that many in the Middle East and beyond know all too well.

Protests, pressure and military posturing

Iran’s recent protests, which began over the rising cost of living, quickly morphed into a broader anti-government movement. Iranian leaders have described the unrest as violent riots driven by foreign interference, while rights groups and activists paint a far darker picture of state crackdowns.

In response to Iran’s deadly handling of the demonstrations, Trump threatened military action and ordered an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East, a move that immediately raised alarms across the region.

On Sunday, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei framed the protests as nothing short of an attempted coup. He warned that a US attack would not stay contained. “If they start a war, this time it will be a regional war,” he said, urging Iranians not to be intimidated by Washington’s rhetoric.

Trump: Deal first, consequences later

Asked about the warning, Trump brushed it off with characteristic bluntness. “Of course he is going to say that,” he told reporters, before adding that he still hopes for a deal. If not, he said, “then we’ll find out whether or not he was right.”

The president has repeatedly argued that Iran would ultimately choose negotiation over confrontation, particularly around its nuclear and missile programmes. Tehran, for its part, has said it is open to nuclear talks, but only if its defence capabilities are kept off the table.

Death toll disputes and global fallout

The human cost of Iran’s unrest continues to fuel international outrage. Iranian authorities have acknowledged nearly 3,000 deaths, releasing most of the names on Sunday, while a US-based rights group claims the real figure is more than double that. Tehran insists many of those killed were security personnel or victims of what it calls “terrorist acts”.

The fallout has been swift. The European Union has designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation, prompting Iranian lawmakers to retaliate by branding European armies the same. Scenes from parliament, lawmakers in IRGC uniforms chanting slogans,  quickly spread across social media, deepening global concern.

Fear at home, caution abroad

Inside Iran, ordinary people are watching anxiously. One homemaker, Firouzeh, described being glued to the news, afraid of what escalating tensions could bring. Her fear reflects a broader unease in a country caught between internal unrest and external threats.

Iran’s foreign minister has warned about “miscalculations” but suggested Trump may still be “wise enough” to choose diplomacy. Behind the scenes, regional intermediaries are reportedly trying to rebuild trust, quietly, cautiously, and far from the headlines.

For now, the situation sits on a knife’s edge: loud threats, fragile talks, and a region hoping the next move is made at a negotiating table, not on a battlefield.

{Source: IOL}

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