Iran crisis: Trump claims leader ‘wants to negotiate’ amid protest crackdown as he mulls US military response – latest updates

US president says he ‘may have to act’ before talks amid crackdown that rights group says has led to at least 538 deaths‘The streets are full of blood’: Iranian protests gather momentum as regime cracks downIranian student killed during protests was shot in head ‘from close range’Analysis: Unpredictable Trump weighs up Iranian pleas for help against calls for restraintDonald Trump said he is considering “very strong” military action against Iran’s ruling regime amid its crackdown on protests that have shaken the country and reportedly sent the death toll soaring.But the US president also claimed on Sunday that Iran’s leader had reached out to him and proposed negotiations. “A meeting is being set up ... They want to negotiate,” Trump said, while adding that “we may have to act before a meeting”.Protests have grown in recent days despite an internet blackout that has lasted more than 72 hours, according to monitor Netblocks. Activists say the shutdown is limiting the flow of information.President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the arch-foes of Iran of “trying to escalate this unrest” and bringing “terrorists from abroad into the country”, in an interview broadcast Sunday with state media.Dozens of bodies have accumulated outside a morgue south of Tehran, according to footage on a video whose location was authenticated by the Agence France-Presse news agency on Sunday.State TV has aired images of burning buildings, including a mosque, as well as funeral processions for security personnel, with authorities confirming members of the security forces have been killed.Trump said on Saturday he would “rescue” protesters if the Iranian government killed them and reiterated his threat to intervene, posting on his Truth Social platform: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” Continue reading...