Iran has warned on Monday that it is "ready" for war with the US as Donald Trump considers military action in support of the economic protests sweeping the country.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the government is open to resuming negotiations with Washington but is "prepared for all options", claiming that its military is now more prepared compared to the 12-day war with Israel last year.
US officials said yesterday that Iran has privately made overtures to the administration in recent days and that Trump is interested in a diplomatic outcome.
The US president has been briefed on a range of military options, which White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said remain on the table.
The comments came on the sixteenth day of demonstrations that have been subject to an intensifying crackdown, which, according to one estimate, has killed almost 650 protesters.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to launch a military attack on Iran if its security forces kill protesters.
"If Washington wants to test the military option it has tested before, we are ready for it," Araghchi told the Qatari broadcaster.
"We are ready to sit at the nuclear negotiating table, provided that it is without threats or dictates," he said. "When it is ready, we will seriously consider the matter."
The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that the White House is considering Iran's offer to resume talks, with senior administration officials – including Vice President JD Vance – attempting to steer Trump away from a military attack.
However, Trump further ratcheted up economic pressure on Tehran late on Monday, announcing a 25 percent tariff on "any and all business" done by the US on countries that trade with Iran.
The economic fallout from US and UN sanctions has been a key driver of the protests, which erupted on 28 December after a record plunge in the rial.
Reliable information about the intensity of the protests and the death toll has been obscured by a nationwide communications blackout now approaching its fifth day, which rights activists say is being used to mask the crackdown.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said on Monday it had confirmed the deaths of 505 protesters and 133 security forces personnel over the 16 days of protests
Iran Human Rights, a Norwegian NGO, said that at least 648 protesters have been killed. Thousands of others are thought to have been arrested.
Asked about the communications shutdown, Araghchi told Al Jazeera the decision was made to fight "terrorist operations" and accused outside actors of directing the protests.
There were signs that authorities may be easing the blackout on Tuesday after journalists reported being able to make international phone calls for the first time in days.
Internet access remains blocked, digital censorship monitor Netblocks said.
While appealing for talks behind the scenes, Iranian officials have struck a belligerent tone against the US in public.
Speaking at a large pro-government rally in Tehran on Monday, Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the US military and shipping would be attacked if Trump launched new strikes against Iran.
The US bombed key Iranian nuclear sites in June last year during Israel's 12-day war before enforcing a ceasefire.