Donald Trump has said he “couldn’t care less” if Iran negotiates with the US — despite his own administration suggesting it was working to get the country “to come to the table” amid increasing tensions.

The president tweeted about comments made during an interview on Fox News Sunday with National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, in which the White House official said he believed “the maximum pressure campaign is working” and that “Iran is going to have no other choice but to come to the table” after the administration introduced a new round of sanctions against Tehran.

“National Security Adviser suggested today that sanctions & protests have Iran ‘choked off’, will force them to negotiate,” Mr Trump tweeted on Sunday night. “Actually, I couldn’t care less if they negotiate.”

He added: “Will be totally up to them but, no nuclear weapons and ‘don’t kill your protesters.’”

The tough talk comes after Mr Trump ordered the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force, who died in a US air strike earlier this month. Iran has since responded by targeting multiple military bases in Iraq known to house US and coalition troops, though neither of the Tehran-linked air strikes have so far resulted in any US casualties.

Mr Trump also repeatedly warned Iran against killing protestors taking to the streets after Tehran was found to have shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, in which 176 people died, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans and three British nationals.

Iran has blamed human error for striking down the passenger jet, as well as “US adventurism” which it said led to the unintentional strike.

Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Show all 23 1 /23 Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police officers take position while protesters gather in front of Amir Kabir University AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranians demonstrate following a tribute for the victims of the Ukraine Boeing 737 crash in front of the Amirkabir University in the capital Tehran EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police dispersed students chanting "radical" slogans during a gathering in Tehran to honour the 176 people killed when an airliner was mistakenly shot down AFP via Getty Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University - People hold flowers as tear gas fired by police rises Online videos purported to show that Iranian security forces fired both live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrators protesting against the Islamic Republic's initial denial that it shot down a Ukrainian jetliner AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police officers take position while protesters gather AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University AFP correspondents said hundreds of students had gathered early in the evening to pay respects to those killed in the air disaster ISNA/AFP via Getty Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian protester prepares to throw a tear gas canister back at police AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University A protester confronts an Iranian police officer AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University epa08120223 Iranians protest to show their sympathy with victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in front of the Amir Kabir University in Tehran, Iran, 11 January 2020. Media reported that hundreds of Iranians protests in Tehran in solidarity with victims of the Ukraine plane as Iranian military released a statement claiming that Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down due to human error. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police officers take position while protesters gathe AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranians light candles for victims EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University epa08120526 Iranians protest to show their sympathy to victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in front of the Amir Kabir University in Tehran, Iran, 11 January 2020. The Iranian military released a statement on 11 January 2020 that Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down due to 'human error.' The passemger jet en route from Tehran to Kiev crashed minutes after takeoff on 08 January 2020, all all 167 passengers and nine crew members aboard were killed. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran People burn British and Israeli flags during a protest in front of the British embassy, in Tehran. Hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protestBritish embassy protest in Tehran Chanting "Death to Britain", up to 200 protesters rallied outside the mission a day after the brief arrest of British ambassador Rob Macaire AFP via Getty Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122502 Iranian hardliners shout slogans as they gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran Iranian demonstrators hold placards bearing the images of slain military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in front of the British embassy in the capital Tehran on January 12, 2020 following the British ambassador's arrest for allegedly attending an illegal demonstration. - Chanting "Death to Britain", up to 200 protesters rallied outside the mission a day after the brief arrest of British ambassador Rob Macaire at a memorial for those killed when a Ukraine airliner was shot down. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images) ATTA KENARE AFP via Getty Images Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Protesters chant slogans and hold up posters of Gen. Qassem Soleimani while burning representations of British and Israeli flags, during a demonstration in front of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. A candlelight ceremony late Saturday in Tehran turned into a protest, with hundreds of people chanting against the country's leaders â€” including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei â€” and police dispersing them with tear gas. Police briefly detained the British ambassador to Iran, Rob Macaire, who said he went to the Saturday vigil without knowing it would turn into a protest. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Ebrahim Noroozi AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122741 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west A hardline protester holds up a placard during a demonstration in front of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. A candlelight ceremony late Saturday in Tehran turned into a protest, with hundreds of people chanting against the country's leaders â€” including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei â€” and police dispersing them with tear gas. Police briefly detained the British ambassador to Iran, Rob Macaire, who said he went to the Saturday vigil without knowing it would turn into a protest. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Ebrahim Noroozi AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122743 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122745 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122786 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Protesters chant slogans while holding up posters of Gen. Qassem Soleimani during a demonstration in front of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. AP

“To the leaders of Iran - DO NOT KILL YOUR PROTESTERS”, the president wrote on Sunday as demonstrators in Iran protested over the downing of the Ukrainian plane.

“Thousands have already been killed or imprisoned by you, and the World is watching”, he continued. “More importantly, the USA is watching. Turn your internet back on and let reporters roam free! Stop the killing of your great Iranian people!”

The region has fallen into further instability amid the escalating crisis between Iran and the US. While the Pentagon has said US interests faced an “imminent threat” from Soleimani, White House officials have failed to present evidence of such claims, and some have even admitted to not actually seeing that evidence before Mr Trump ordered the air strike against the Iranian general.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also told reporters last week “we don’t know exactly which day it would’ve been executed”, but added that “Soleimani himself was plotting a broad, large-scale attack against American interests” and “those attacks were imminent”.

Mr Trump has meanwhile insisted Iran was possibly targeting four US embassies, though his secretary of defence said on Sunday he had not reviewed evidence supporting those claims.

On Sunday, Mr O’Brien brushed off Iran’s response to the conflict as “typical” and said increased economic pressure may ultimately result in a resolution.