As diplomatic discussions between Washington and Tehran pick up steam, Iran has stepped up its regional rhetoric while maintaining a violent domestic crackdown, per analysts and eyewitness reports obtained by Digital.
Over Sunday and Monday morning, Iran issued new warnings that any military attack on its soil would spark a regional conflict, even as top Iranian officials indicated a readiness to negotiate. Reuters reported Monday that Tehran is exploring the possibility of resuming nuclear talks with the U.S., with Turkey emerging as a possible location and regional intermediaries—including and Qatar—taking an active role, following President Donald Trump’s statement that he was optimistic a deal could be struck to avoid military action against Iran.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is set to arrive in Israel on Tuesday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Axios stated. The outlet also reported that Witkoff will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Istanbul on Friday.
The discussions are anticipated to center on Iran, coming after Zamir’s weekend trip to Washington, where he held multiple meetings with U.S. defense officials regarding the Islamic Republic.
Benny Sabti, an Iran specialist at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, told Digital this pattern aligns with Tehran’s long-standing strategy.
“This is extremely typical behavior for ,” Sabti noted. He said Iran intentionally ramped up threats days prior, warning that if attacked, no Middle Eastern country would be safe. “They act as though the region is a hostage,” he stated, adding that the tactic seems to have succeeded.
Sabti highlighted the current list of mediators. “Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar—all of them went to the U.S. advocating for talks,” he said. “They’re seeking to avoid being pulled into the Iranian threat.”
Per Sabti, Tehran is also intentionally sending mixed signals. “Two voices are coming from Iran,” he said. “On one hand, the generals, IRGC, and military are escalating threats. On the other, the foreign minister and president are discussing negotiations.”
On Monday morning, Al Arabiya reported that Iranian news outlets Tasnim and Fars removed a story that mentioned approval for negotiations with the U.S.
Sabti stated that even reflects this dual messaging. He noted a deputy official recently indicated Iran would not yet expand its enriched uranium program, while military officials concurrently ratcheted up rhetoric. “It’s intended to confuse the enemy and keep the entire Middle East under pressure,” he said.
While Iran’s external stance swings between threats and diplomacy, internal reports indicate an .
Independent casualty figures vary greatly. The (HRANA) stated that, based on its latest compiled data, 6,842 people had been confirmed dead by the 36th day of protests. Per HRANA, 6,425 of those killed were listed as protesters, and 146 were children under 18. Another 11,280 cases are still being reviewed. HRANA and other opposition-aligned groups have cautioned that the final death toll could be much higher, with some estimates as high as 30,000.
Digital obtained eyewitness testimonies from individuals identified as members of the MEK’s Resistance Units network within Iran.
An eyewitness from Eslamshahr, a southern Tehran district, recounted that a group of 27 protesters was shot at, resulting in 10 deaths. The source said a cousin was killed, another cousin—20-year-old Melika—was mutilated, and the bodies were buried in a nearby park.
In Lahijan, northern Gilan Province, an eyewitness said 30 protesters were shot outside the governor’s office on Jan. 8, with seven later dying in the hospital. In Shiraz, a 16-year-old reported being hit by pellet gun fire in the lips, eye, and throat and now has vision issues.
Another eyewitness from southern Iran’s Bandar Abbas said martial law has been in place since Jan. 18, with residents prohibited from being on the streets after 4 p.m. local time. The source alleged security forces entered hospitals to remove or kill injured protesters and that families were told they had to pay 10 billion rials—about $8,000—to retrieve their children’s bodies.
Sabti noted that the renewed diplomatic efforts have also heightened public disillusionment within Iran.
“Lots of protesters are really disappointed,” he said. “When said on Jan. 13 that ‘help is on its way,’ they believed it. They were very emotional about it. For the first time in 47 years, an American president was speaking up for the Iranian people. But now they see his words as aiding the regime, not the protesters. The disappointment runs very deep.”
Reuters contributed to this report.