ByJAMES GENN
Updated:

The US military's plans to conduct military operations against Iran are in "the advanced stages," an anonymous US official told Qatari-state-owned Al Jazeera on Monday.

The military options for an operation against the Islamic Republic are "being tailored to circumstances and developments," the official told the outlet. "Our forces in the Middle East are ready for any contingency, any mission, and to defend themselves and our interests."

These comments follow Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's weekend meeting with the Trump administration's Middle East special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to discuss the ongoing protests across the Islamic Republic, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Axios earlier on Tuesday.

Araghchi "reached out" to Witkoff, the report claimed.

Iranian flags fly as fire and smoke from an Israeli attack on Sharan Oil depot rise, following Israeli strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, June 15, 2025.
Iranian flags fly as fire and smoke from an Israeli attack on Sharan Oil depot rise, following Israeli strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, June 15, 2025. (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA/REUTERS)

This, in turn, followed US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatening to intervene in the protests, including not ruling out military force.

Iran asks Trump to resume nuclear talks

Meanwhile, Trump on Monday revealed that Iran has approached the US to request a return to negotiations regarding a new nuclear deal.

“I think they’re tired of being beaten up by the United States,” he said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

"We may need to act before a meeting with them… we are in the process of coordinating a meeting,” the president told reporters aboard Air Force One, as large-scale protests continue in Iran for the third consecutive week.

HRANA: At least 544 dead in Iran protests

At least 544 people have died during the 15 days of protests, the Human Rights Activists News Agency's data showed on Tuesday.

This includes 483 protesters, 47 members of the "military or law enforcement," a "government-affiliated non-civilian," and five non-protesting civilians.

HRANA's data also included the deaths of five Iranians under the age of 18, which it did not include in the 544.
The organization also received reports of 579 other deaths that it is investigating.

In addition, over 10,680 individuals have been arrested, HRANA noted.

Amichai Stein contributed to this report.