US President Donald Trump said Washington is preparing to meet Iranian leaders after Tehran signalled a willingness to negotiate amid escalating nationwide protests. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump claimed Iranian leaders had reached out, while warning that the US could still take action if violence against protesters continues. Iran has seen days of unrest triggered by economic hardship and a collapsing currency, with security forces using force, mass arrests reported, and internet access cut nationwide. Rights groups say hundreds may have been killed, as tensions between Washington and Tehran rise sharply.