PARIS: Iranian authorities on Monday sought to regain control of the streets with mass nationwide rallies in the wake of protests on a scale unprecedented in recent years, as alarm grew over a deadly crackdown. The foreign minister said Iran was ready for both war and talks after repeated threats from Washington to intervene militarily over the crackdown on protests, which activists fear has left at least hundreds dead.

Iranian authorities appear to be unusually restrained in reacting to mass protests, a possible result of Donald Trump's threat to intervene.

Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s deputy head of International News, Devika Bhat