President Donald Trump says Iran wants to negotiate with the U.S. after his threat to strike the country over its crackdown on protesters

Iran has warned of retaliation if attacked by the US as a violent crackdown on nationwide protests intensifies, with activists reporting over 500 protesters killed and over 20,000 detained.

“Iran wants to negotiate, yes. We may meet with them, a meeting is being set up, but we may have to act, because of what’s happening, before the meeting,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.