Iran marks 47th revolution anniversary as nuclear talks hang in balance amid U.S. pressure

Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from Jon Gambrell at The Associated Press is the basis of this artificial intelligence-assisted article.

Iran commemorated the 47th anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution amid heightened tensions with the United States and public anger over a deadly government crackdown on nationwide protests that killed thousands last month.

Some key facts:

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated Iran is willing to negotiate over its nuclear program and is not seeking nuclear weapons, though U.N. inspectors have been unable to verify Iran’s stockpile for months.

• The bloody government crackdown on protests that began Jan. 8 killed thousands and resulted in tens of thousands of detentions, according to activists.

• U.S. President Trump is considering sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, adding to the USS Abraham Lincoln already deployed in the region to pressure Iran.

• Senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani traveled to Qatar after visiting Oman, which has been mediating the latest round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States.

• State television showed hundreds of thousands attending pro-government rallies with burning American flags, while witnesses reported hearing anti-government chants from homes the night before.

• Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran lacks “full trust” for Americans following the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day Iran-Israel war last June.

• Pezeshkian acknowledged the crackdown caused “great sorrow” and said the government is “not seeking confrontation with the people.”

READ MORE: Iran commemorates 1979 revolution as nation is squeezed by anger over crackdown, tensions with U.S.