Trump weighs ‘very strong’ military options against Iran as death toll of protesters climbs | First Thing

US president claims ‘Iran wants to negotiate’ as rights groups report that regime’s crackdown on protest has killed hundreds. Plus, how Grok’s nudification tool went viral Good morning. Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has reached out and proposed negotiations, as he considers “very strong” military action against the regime over a deadly crackdown on protesters that has reportedly killed hundreds. What’s happening in Iran? The protest movement in Iran is the most significant unrest it has experienced in years. Though triggered initially by a sudden slide in the country’s currency, protesters soon demanded political reform and called for the downfall of the government. How has Iran responded to Trump’s comments? The Iranian parliamentary speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, warned Washington against “a miscalculation” , saying Israel and US interests in the Middle East would be “legitimate targets”. How has Powell responded? In a blistering statement yesterday, Powell argued he had been threatened with criminal charges because the Fed had set interest rates “based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president”. Continue reading...