What to know about potential U.S. intervention in Iranian protests

Weeks into protests in Iran, President Trump has indicated he could soon intervene in favor of protesters, pressuring a regime already reeling from street uprisings. Why it matters: The stakes are life and death in Iran and escalating. More than 540 protesters have been killed, reports said, and the regime has blocked internet access.Driving the news: As of Sunday, Trump was considering several options to support protests and squeeze the regime, ranging from sanctions to potential military action.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reached out to White House envoy Steve Witkoff over the weekend, seemingly in an effort to deescalate or buy more time.Context: Protests in Iran were spurred by economic grievances. Some demonstrators now also demand regime change. Excessive sanctions and Iran's reliance on imports have driven up prices and inflation. The Iranian rial plunged to a record low in late December. Death toll risesBy the numbers: Two weeks into the nationwide protests, more than 10,600 people have been arrested and sent to prisons, according to the Human Rights Activist News Agency."Protests have taken place at 585 locations across the country, in 186 cities, spanning all 31 provinces," HRANA said.Threat level: HRANA reported 544 deaths as of Sunday with dozens more under review. The dead included 483 protesters, 47 military or law enforcement, eight children, five non-protesting bystanders and one prosecutor.Zoom out: A UN-mandated human rights mission on Saturday demanded Iran restore internet and phone access immediately and end the violence against protesters. Trump's potential interventionWhat we're watching: On Saturday, Trump said his administration is ready to help protesters.Those remarks went further than previous ones, suggesting the U.S. could intervene regardless of violence from the regime.The other side: The Iranian government, meanwhile, proposed to negotiate a nuclear deal. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran's parliament speaker, threatened to retaliate against the U.S. if Trump intervened. He said the U.S. military and Israel would be deemed "legitimate targets" for strikes. Flashback: On Jan. 2, Trump said the U.S. would intervene in Iran if the government violently killed protesters. "We are locked and ready to go," he wrote on Truth Social. Protest in photos A vehicle burns during protests in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 8. Photo: Khoshiran / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images Iranians gather while blocking a street during a protest in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 9. Photo: MAHSA / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images Iranians gather while blocking a street during a protest in Kermanshah, Iran on Jan. 8. Photo: Kamran / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty ImagesGo deeper:Trump considers options as Iran cracks down on protestsTrump says Iran proposed nuclear deal talks, as U.S. weighs military actionTrump says U.S. is ready to help Iranians get freedom