US President Donald Trump had been sending mixed signals about whether he planned to attack Iran, preparing for war while saying he favors dialogue.
The United States has moved military assets closer to the Middle East over the past few weeks, raising concerns that the prospects of war were growing.
Trump said on January 22 that the US had “an armada” moving toward Iran “just in case,” adding that while he would rather not “see anything happen,” the US is watching Iran “very closely.” Just hours earlier, that same day, he said that Iran wants to negotiate and that the US is willing to do so.
“Iran does want to talk, and we’ll talk,” Trump said at a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, without offering any more detail.
Trump’s stated reason for attacking Iran was to stop the regime from killing protesters. Since the protests began in late December, he has repeatedly warned that the US would hit Iran if the government used lethal force against civilians.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says at least 5,520 protesters have been killed since the anti-government demonstrations began. Iranian authorities put the death toll at 3,117, including those identified as “civilians,” security forces and “terrorists.” CNN can’t independently verify the number of deaths.
Protests have since waned in Iran, subdued by security forces in the deadliest crackdown ever by the Islamic Republic.
Iranian doctor says regime targeted protesters in hospital
Iranian medics have been risking everything to help injured protesters as regime forces take control of hospitals and detain patients. In a rare interview from inside Iran, one doctor speaks to CNN's Jomana Karadsheh about the underground network treating the wounded and accuses government forces of killing protesters in their hospital beds. CNN has obscured the doctor's voice and face to ensure their safety and anonymity.