Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned the United States that they have their “finger on the trigger” following weeks of nationwide protests, even as US President Donald Trump said Tehran still appeared open to negotiations.

Axar.az, citing France24, reports that the warning came amid heightened tensions after a violent crackdown on protests that activists say has killed more than 5,000 people, while Iranian authorities report over 3,100 deaths.

Trump said the US was deploying a naval “armada” to the Gulf as a precaution, stressing that Washington is closely monitoring Iran but prefers diplomacy over military action.

Iranian leaders accused the US and Israel of instigating the unrest following the recent 12-day war, while senior military officials warned that any American attack would make US bases and interests “legitimate targets.”

Human rights groups dispute Iran’s official death toll and say the real number of casualties could be far higher, with arrests exceeding 26,000 amid an ongoing internet blackout.