Donald Trump is expected to meet with senior US officials on Tuesday to review Washington’s options in response to Iran's crackdown on mass anti-government protests.
The president will meet with senior aides, including secretary of state Marco Rubio and defence secretary Pete Hegseth, on Tuesday to weigh up options, including military strikes and sanctions, according to The Wall Street Journal.
It comes after Iran’s parliamentary speaker warned on Sunday that Tehran would consider Israel and US bases and ships to be fair targets if Washington does involve itself, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Over the weekend, authorities tightened their grip on the unrest as protesters were warned that they could face the death penalty for causing damage to property. The military accused foreign “enemies” of fuelling the unrest, meanwhile, and urged civilians to stay vigilant against so-called “enemy plots”.
The US-based rights group HRANA reported on Sunday evening that the death toll has surpassed 500, and that more than 10,000 people had been arrested. They noted difficulty sourcing reliable information with Iran maintaining its internet blackout nationwide.
Trump warns Ayatollah ‘we will start shooting if you do’ as Iran rocked by another night of protests
Trump warns Tehran that US ‘stands ready to help’ Iranian protesters as regime crackdown intensifies
What is happening in Iran? Internet blackout and Israel blamed after widespread anti-regime protests
Key Points
- Iran threatens to escalate conflict if US aids protesters
- A timeline of Iran's growing protest movement
- Police say clashes have 'stepped up a level' as 8 killed
- Death toll passes 500, according to US-based monitor
Watch: Iran parliament speaker threatens Trump with retaliation
03:15 , Dan HaygarthFootage from Saturday showed large crowds in Tehran
03:00 , Dan HaygarthThe flow of information from Iran has been hampered by an internet blackout since Thursday.
Footage posted on social media on Saturday from Tehran showed large crowds marching at night, clapping and chanting. The crowd "has no end nor beginning," a man is heard saying.
Footage from the northeastern city of Mashhad showed smoke billowing into the night sky from fires in the street, masked protesters and a road strewn with debris, another video posted on Saturday showed.
Explosions could be heard.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was shocked by reports of violence by the Iranian authorities and urged maximum restraint.
"The rights to freedom of expression, association & peaceful assembly must be fully respected & protected," he said on X on Sunday.
Trump says US are looking at 'very strong options'
02:39 , Andrew GeorgesonTrump told reporters that he was getting “hourly” updates on the situation in Iran during a press huddle on Air Force One Sunday night.
“We’re looking at some very strong options,” he said, adding that Iran was “starting” to cross his red line, according to the New York Times.
Trump to be briefed by senior officials this week as his considers his options
02:14 , Dan HaygarthPresident Donald Trump is set to be briefed this week by senior administration officials on his options to respond to widespread anti-government protests in Iran, according to a report.
Trump will be briefed Tuesday on specific routes of response to the protests, suggesting that he is considering reprimanding the regime for cracking down on demonstrators, as he has previously warned he would do, sources told The Wall Street Journal.
The president will meet with senior administration officials, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine to weigh the options, which include boosting anti-government sources online, utilizing secret cyber weapons, and placing more sanctions on the regime and military strikes, according to the report.
The Independent view: Regime change in Iran would be welcome
01:30 , Daniel HaygarthEditorial: Iran’s unremittingly harsh leadership faces one of the most serious challenges to its theocratic rule since the Islamic Republic was established in 1979.
After weeks of nationwide protests, the ayatollahs’ spell could soon be broken – which is how counter-revolutions begin, and governments fall
Read the full article: Regime change in Iran would be welcome
Recap: Trump warns Iran 'we’re going to hit very hard’ if protesters are targeted
00:45 , Dan HaygarthUN Secretary General 'Shocked by reports of violence and excessive use of force by the Iranian authorities '
00:45 , Dan HaygarthShocked by reports of violence & excessive use of force by the Iranian authorities against protesters resulting in deaths & injuries in recent days.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) January 11, 2026
The rights to freedom of expression, association & peaceful assembly must be fully respected & protected.
I urge the Iranian…
Rand Paul says bombing Iran will help regime as Trump considers strikes
00:12 , Dan HaygarthA Republican US senator who has frequently broken with the president on issues of foreign policy and government spending warned Donald Trump against invading or launching strikes in Iran on Sunday after the president released several statements on Truth Social indicating that he was considering supporting protests within the country with military or other assistance.
Sen. Rand Paul spoke on ABC’s This Week as it was reported that the president was briefed in recent days on options for military strikes within the country. It isn’t clear what the administration’s target or goal for military action would be if strikes were to be authorized by the president.
Paul told ABC that while the protests, which are now nearing a third week, are a sign that many Iranians are tired to living under the current regime, there isn’t enough evidence that they were calling for or wanted U.S. intervention of any kind.
"I don't think it's the job of the American government to be involved with every freedom movement around the world," Paul told ABC’s Martha Raddatz. "I think the protests are directed at the Ayatollah, justifiably so, and the best way is to encourage them and say that, of course, we would recognize a government that is a freedom-loving government that allows free elections. But bombing is not the answer.”
“[W]hen you bomb a country, then people tend to rally around their own flag,” Paul said. “They tend to see this as the — you know, a foreign country coming in and bombing us. And so, I don't think it always has that [intended] effect.”
Fatalities rise to 544 people, says news agency
00:00 , Dan HaygarthAccording to the latest date from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, the number of confirmed fatalities had risen to 544 people.
It added that more than 10,681 individuals have also been transferred to prisons following arrest.
The agency said Protests have taken place at 585 locations across the country, in 186 cities, spanning all 31 provinces.
Patel: Tehran 'cannot stop the will of the Iranian people'
Sunday 11 January 2026 23:15 , Daniel HaygarthUK shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “As Iran’s violent and repressive regime continues their senseless brutally against courageous unarmed Iranians, the despots of Tehran must know they cannot stop the will of the Iranian people in their fight for freedom.”
Foreign Office rejects reports UK ambassador summoned
Sunday 11 January 2026 22:52 , Dan HaygarthThe Foreign Office has rejected reports from Iran that the UK’s ambassador in Tehran Hugo Shorter was summoned over the flag incident, with sources insisting he merely “had a meeting” at the Foreign Ministry.
Earlier, demonstrators gathered outside Downing Street to call for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be banned as a terrorist organisation – a call which has support from senior figures in Parliament including Labour peer Lord Spellar and former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said there was a “very thorough process” that was necessary before decisions about proscription could be made by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
She said: “As a government, we keep those decisions about the proscription of organisations under constant review and I have no doubt that Shabana Mahmood is doing that at the moment.”
Ms Alexander said the UK’s priority was to “stem the violence”.
Rally in London in support of Iran protests
Sunday 11 January 2026 22:50 , Dan HaygarthFashion student, 23, ‘shot dead in back of the head’ in Iran protests
Sunday 11 January 2026 22:02 , Dan Haygarth
A 23-year-old student was shot dead at close range after joining mass anti-government protests in Iran, according to a human rights group, as the regime continues its crackdown on demonstrations.
According to the Iran Human Rights group, Rubina Aminian, 23, was killed on 8 January after leaving Shariati College in Tehran, the nation’s capital, and joining protest gatherings.
Sources close to her family told Norway-based Iran Human Rights that Ms Aminian, who was a student of textile and fashion design, was shot from behind at close range, with the bullet striking her head.
Full article: Fashion student, 23, ‘shot dead in back of the head’ in Iran protests
Head of Iran police warns force to respond 'decisively, swiftly and forcefully' to 'violent rioters'
Sunday 11 January 2026 21:45 , Dan HaygarthRecap: Death toll has surpassed 500, rights group says
Sunday 11 January 2026 20:34 , Dan HaygarthMore than 500 people have died since protests began in Iran, a rights group said on Sunday, as Tehran threatened to target U.S. military bases if President Donald Trump carries out threats to intervene on behalf of protesters.
With the Islamic Republic's clerical establishment facing the biggest demonstrations since 2022, Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene if force is used on protesters.
According to its latest figures - from activists inside and outside Iran - U.S.-based rights group HRANA said it had verified the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel, with more than 10,600 people arrested in two weeks of unrest.
Iran has not given an official toll.
UK wants a “peaceful transition” of power in Iran
Sunday 11 January 2026 20:00 , Dan HaygarthThe UK wants to see a “peaceful transition” of power in Iran, a Cabinet minister said as the Tehran regime continued to violently crack down on protests.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the UK’s priority was to “stem the violence”.
She told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “The British Government has always viewed Iran as a hostile state.
“We know that they pose a security threat in the Middle East and beyond and we know that they have been a repressive regime in terms of their own population.
“And so I think the priority, as of today, is to try and stem the violence that is happening in Iran at the moment.”
Badenoch indicates she would support RAF involvement if necessary.
Sunday 11 January 2026 19:45 , Dan HaygarthTory leader Kemi Badenoch said it would be right for the US to help oust the Islamic Republic’s leadership in Iran and indicated she would support RAF involvement if necessary.
She told BBC One’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “You’ve seen the recent RAF strikes, for instance, in Syria. Without over speculating – we are talking about hypothetical situations – we have worked in alliance with other countries.
“I think this has to be something that we do with a broad coalition of countries. That is the right way to do it, and to make sure that we create a stable Iran.
“The worst possible thing would be for this to escalate to a point where the situation gets worse, not better.”
A timeline of Iran's growing protest movement
Sunday 11 January 2026 19:30 , James ReynoldsDec. 28: Protests break out in two major markets in downtown Tehran, after the Iranian rial plunged to a new record low.
Dec. 29: The central bank head resigns as the protests spread and police fire tear gas at protesters.
Dec. 30: President Masoud Pezeshkian vows to work with business leaders to hear their demands as university campuses join protests.
Dec. 31: Protests in Fasa allegedly turn violent after crowds break into the governor’s office.
Jan. 1: The protests' first fatalities are officially reported, with authorities saying at least seven people have been killed.
Jan. 2: Trump threatens Iran if it kills peaceful protesters.
Jan. 3: Khamenei greenlights security forces in crackdown. Protests reach 170 locations with 15 dead.
Jan. 8: The government blocks the internet after Reza Pahlavi calls on citizens to act.
Jan. 9: Iran ramps up threats of punishment with 65 reported killed and 2,300 detained.
Jan. 11: Iran’s parliament speaker threatens to strike US military bases in the region if Trump attacks, as rights groups say 538 people have now been killed. HRANA reports arrests have surpassed 10,000.
Trump to be briefed on his options this week
Sunday 11 January 2026 19:15 , Dan Haygarth
President Donald Trump is set to be briefed this week by senior administration officials on his options to respond to widespread anti-government protests in Iran, according to a report.
Trump will be briefed Tuesday on specific routes of response to the protests, suggesting that he is considering reprimanding the regime for cracking down on demonstrators, as he has previously warned he would do, sources told The Wall Street Journal.
The president will meet with senior administration officials, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine to weigh the options, which include boosting anti-government sources online, utilizing secret cyber weapons, and placing more sanctions on the regime and military strikes, according to the report.
Read the full article: Trump will hear Iran options from senior aides including Rubio and Hegseth this week: Report
Iran threatens to hit US military targets if Trump decides to strike over protests
Sunday 11 January 2026 19:00 , Dan HaygarthIran has threatened to hit US military targets if Donald Trump launches strikes over the country’s growing protests.
The US president warned the ayatollah’s regime this week that the United States would “hit them hard” if protesters were killed, and is understood to be weighing up options for action within days.
Hundreds of people have now been killed on Iran’s streets as nationwide protests in 185 cities across all 31 provinces calling for an end to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s rule continue to grow.
But as international pressure on Iran mounts, Tehran escalated the crisis on Sunday by claiming it was ready to launch preemptive strikes against Israeli and US bases in the region.
“In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centres, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets,” parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said.
Read the full article: Iran threatens to hit US military targets if Trump decides to strike over protests
ICYMI: Iran parliament speaker threatens 'delusional' Trump with retaliation
Sunday 11 January 2026 18:30 , James ReynoldsAnalysis: Iran’s regime is facing its gravest existential threat: here’s why - and what happens next
Sunday 11 January 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsAfter a disastrous 12-day war with Israel last year and diminished support from its allies, Iran’s leaders have resorted to brutal violence to crush a mass uprising which is only going to get more bloody, writes chief international correspondent Bel Trew:
Iran’s regime is facing its gravest threat: here’s why - and what happens next
Fall of regime would mean the end of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, says US ambassador to Israel
Sunday 11 January 2026 17:30 , James ReynoldsMike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, said the end of the regime in Iran would also spell the end of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
“Should the Iranian people choose to end over 46 yrs of hateful & incompetent rule, it could restore the Persian culture of education, art, music, and strength and the end of Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis,” he posted on X this afternoon.
Death toll passes 500, according to US-based monitor
Sunday 11 January 2026 17:04 , James ReynoldsUS-based rights group HRANA is now reporting that 10,600 people have been arrested, according to the latest tallies.
It records that 538 people have been killed in the unrest, up from 116 yesterday. That figure is said to include 490 protesters and 48 security personnel.
They note that sourcing reliable information has been made difficult by the ongoing internet blackouts.
In pictures: Protesters return to demonstrate in London
Sunday 11 January 2026 17:00 , James Reynolds
Pentagon hasn't moved troops, officials say
Sunday 11 January 2026 16:39 , James ReynoldsUS officials also told the WSJ that the Pentagon has not yet moved any US troops as Trump weighs potential military action against Iran.
A meeting to discuss options is expected on Tuesday, officials told the paper. Expected to attend are Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine.
Trump is not expected to give a final decision on what to do at Tuesday’s meeting, with discussions still apparently in ‘early stages’.
Trump to be briefed on Iran options this week
Sunday 11 January 2026 16:21 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump will be briefed on his options for Iran on Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal is reporting.
The outlet says the president will be briefed on ‘specific options to respond to the protests’, citing US officials.
Sources told the newspaper that options being considered now include:
- Boosting antigovernment sources online;
- Deploying secretive cyber weapons against Iranian military and civilian sites;
- Placing more sanctions on the regime;
- Military strikes.
Qalibaf threatened US troops last week
Sunday 11 January 2026 16:16 , James ReynoldsThe parliamentary speaker in Iran who threatened US bases in an address on Sunday was also sabre-rattling on X last week.
Former IRGC commander Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said today that the US military and Israel would be "legitimate targets" if America strikes Iran.
On January 2, he posted on social media that “the disrespectful President of America should also know that with this official admission, all American centers and forces across the entire region will be legitimate targets for us in response to any potential adventurism”.
IDF ready to respond to Iranian attacks
Sunday 11 January 2026 16:07 , James ReynoldsThe Times of Israel reported today that the IDF’s chief of staff held situational assessments on Iran this weekend.
The military was said to be staying operationally prepared to respond if needed - but was treating the anti-regime protests as an internal Iranian affair for now.
BREAKING: Death toll soars to 466, says rights group
Sunday 11 January 2026 15:33 , James ReynoldsIran-focused rights group HRANA is now reporting the death toll has risen to 466.
Yesterday, the US-based NGO put the tally at 116. On Friday, it had recorded 65.
Follow live: Paris demonstration in solidarity with anti-government protests in Iran
Sunday 11 January 2026 15:29 , James ReynoldsNetanyahu reportedly calls security meeting with top advisers
Sunday 11 January 2026 15:09 , James ReynoldsIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called top advisers and ministers together for a security consultation, The Times of Israel is reporting.
The full security cabinet is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, but a preliminary consultation was due to start at 3pm GMT, the outlet said.
How much support does Reza Pahlavi really have in Iran?
Sunday 11 January 2026 15:00 , James ReynoldsHow much public support Pahlavi now commands in Iran, where he has not set foot for decades, is difficult to gauge.
Some protesters have voiced support for him in videos circulating, with chants of "Long live the shah", suggesting his messages may be resonating.
Others simply call for sweeping political change, with slogans such as "Down with the dictator".
"Everything Reza Pahlavi learned about ruling a country came from his own father who failed for a reason,” said Azadeh, 27, in a message from northern Iran. “We had Pahlavis, now it is time for a democratic country.”
Pahlavi has told Iranians he is ready to lead a transition. But unlike in the 1979 revolution, there is no single voice driving the opposition.
Pahlavi has also gained little traction in winning personal support from Western governments abroad - neither in Washington, nor in European capitals, despite their opposition to the regime.
Watch: Iran parliament speaker threatens 'delusional' Trump with retaliation
Sunday 11 January 2026 14:30 , James ReynoldsNetanyahu says Israel monitoring situation in Iran
Sunday 11 January 2026 14:13 , James ReynoldsIsrael’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is speaking about the burgeoning situation in Iran.
He said Israel is closely monitoring developments and hopes Iran will soon be freed from tyranny.
Comment: This Iranian uprising could be as pivotal as the French Revolution
Sunday 11 January 2026 14:00 , James ReynoldsAs violent clashes continue across Iran, the end of the Islamic regime could prove even more consequential for the world than the fall of the Berlin Wall.
A far better comparison would be the storming of the Bastille, says Mark Almond – and it may prove just as bloody:
This Iranian uprising could be as pivotal as the French Revolution
Watch: UK 'very concerned' about situation in Iran, says Heidi Alexander
Sunday 11 January 2026 13:31 , James ReynoldsICYMI: Rubio and Netanyahu discuss Iran
Sunday 11 January 2026 13:00 , James ReynoldsUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke over the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid.
The pair were said to have discussed the protests in Iran along with Gaza and Syria.
Iran has accused Israel and the US of conspiring to encourage protests. Netanyahu discussed the possibility of renewed strikes with Trump at the end of December.
Iran threatens to escalate conflict if US aids protesters
Sunday 11 January 2026 12:39 , James ReynoldsIran’s parliament speaker issued a chilling warning to the US and Israel, after Donald Trump threatened to come to the aid of protesters clashing with security forces.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran's parliament speaker said on Sunday, in a message directed to Trump: “If you take action to attack Iran, both the occupied territories and all US military centers, bases, and ships in the region will be considered legitimate targets by us."
Israel held security consultations over the weekend. Three sources attending said Israel was on a high-alert footing, but did not elaborate on what that meant.
Rights group claims 192 dead since protests started
Sunday 11 January 2026 12:30 , James ReynoldsA rights group following the last two weeks of protest is reporting that at least 192 people have been killed in the last two weeks.
Iran Human Rights put the tally higher than HRANA’s recorded 116. Both note the difficulty recording full figures due to the ongoing internet blackout.
“At the same time, unverified reports indicate that at least several hundreds, and according to some sources, more than 2,000 people may have been killed,” says Iran Human Rights.
Pezeshkian calls for reconciliation - and blames Israel for unrest
Sunday 11 January 2026 12:16 , James ReynoldsIran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has also spoken out to blame the recent unrest on the US and Israel.
He said on Sunday that they want to "sow chaos and disorder" in Iran by ordering "riots", and called upon Iranians to distance themselves from "rioters and terrorists".
Pezeshkian insisted that the establishment was ready to listen to the concerns of its people, while explaining away the unrest as something ordered by Israel to stir up instability.
Where are the protests?
Sunday 11 January 2026 12:08 , James ReynoldsInformation coming out of Iran is scarce, even with Starlink offering a workaround.
HRANA, a rights group focused on Iran, said in its daily report late on Saturday that protests have now taken place in 574 distinct locations.
That included 185 cities, up from 180 on Friday. All 31 provinces are now affected by the demonstrations.
Some 2,638 people have been arrested, the group reported. As many as 116 people were said to have been killed.
Exiled crown prince pleads with UK government to stand with Iran
Sunday 11 January 2026 11:28 , James ReynoldsExiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has urged the UK government to stand with the people of Iran in their protests against the regime.
“I hope the UK Government will stand with the people in their hour of need and work with me to support a stable and responsible transition to democracy,” he told the Mail on Sunday.
“The time is now. Do not simply observe the birth of a new Iran, work with us to ensure that it is peaceful, stable, and worthy of the sacrifices its people are making.”
He said he was looking to ensure a peaceful transition of government, using a secure channel to gather support from defectors in the military and other institutions.
“Tens of thousands have already reached out through these secure channels – clear evidence that dissatisfaction within the regime’s ranks is deep and widespread, and that many inside Iran’s military are prepared to play a constructive role in a democratic future,” he claimed.
A timeline of Iran's growing protest movement
Sunday 11 January 2026 11:00 , James ReynoldsDec. 28: Protests break out in two major markets in downtown Tehran, after the Iranian rial plunged to a new record low.
Dec. 29: The central bank head resigns as the protests spread and police fire tear gas at protesters.
Dec. 30: President Masoud Pezeshkian vows to work with business leaders to hear their demands as university campuses join protests.
Dec. 31: Protests in Fasa allegedly turn violent after crowds break into the governor’s office.
Jan. 1: The protests' first fatalities are officially reported, with authorities saying at least seven people have been killed.
Jan. 2: Trump threatens Iran if it kills peaceful protesters.
Jan. 3: Khamenei greenlights security forces in crackdown. Protests reach 170 locations with 15 dead.
Jan. 8: The government blocks the internet after Reza Pahlavi calls on citizens to act.
Jan. 9: Iran ramps up threats of punishment with 65 reported killed and 2,300 detained.
Jan. 10: Iran’s parliament speaker threatens to strike US military bases in the region if Trump attacks, as rights groups say 116 people have now been killed.
Clashes with law enforcement have 'stepped up a level', says police chief
Sunday 11 January 2026 10:29 , James ReynoldsIran’s chief of police today told state media that clashes with protesters have ‘stepped up a level’, with no sign of the protests abating.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday that eight law enforcement personnel have been killed in ‘rioting’.
The victims were not identified. They were said to have been killed in multiple cities of Iran during public unrest.
British-Iranian activist says thousands may have been killed
Sunday 11 January 2026 10:00 , James ReynoldsBritish-Iranian actor and activists Nazanin Boniadi tells Sky News that she has heard thousands of Iranians have now been killed.
Rights group HRANA tallied 116 deaths by Saturday, but warned the internet blackout was hampering the ability to verify reports from within Iran.
Boniadi recounts a story from Iran of a morgue so full that bodies had to be stored in a warehouse.
She says that she is hearing very little from family, with the blackout still ongoing. The limited information coming out of Iran is thanks to Starlink.
Iran threatens US bases as fears of regional conflict grow
Sunday 11 January 2026 09:43 , James ReynoldsIran's parliament speaker warned that the US military and Israel would be "legitimate targets" if America strikes.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf made the threat as politicians rushed the dais in the Iranian parliament, shouting: "Death to America!"
Mr Trump offered support for the protesters, saying on social media that "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!"
The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous US officials, said on Saturday night that Mr Trump had been given military options for a strike on Iran, but had not made a final decision.
The WSJ reported that one option is to launch a 'large–scale aerial strike' against Iranian military targets.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says the government has been in touch with the authorities in Iran about detained Britons Craig and Lindsay Foreman.
Asked whether we know how many British citizens there are in Iran at the moment, she tells Sky News: “I don’t have a precise figure ... but it is a relatively small number of British citizens.”
“Clearly we’re very concerned about the situation in Iran at the moment, the violence that we’ve seen with the protests and we would urge the authorities in Tehran to exercise restraint, to make sure that they are protecting the lives of their citizens,” she says.
Doctors tell of overflowing morgues at hospitals as unrest mounts
Sunday 11 January 2026 09:17 , James ReynoldsDoctors across Iran have told of harrowing scenes at hospitals overflowing with injured protesters as clashes continue between demonstrators and security forces.
A medic at a hospital in Tehran has told the BBC that young people were arriving with “direct shots to the head”. An eye hospital in the capital was in ‘crisis mode’ as it grappled with the number of casualties.
Medical workers said patients were arriving with wound from both pellets and live ammunition.
The number of recorded fatalities shot to 116 on Saturday, up from 65 on Friday, according to rights group HRANA. A communications blackout was still hampering their ability to record and verify deaths and injuries.
This Iranian uprising could be as pivotal as the French Revolution
Sunday 11 January 2026 09:15 , Shahana YasminAs violent clashes continue across Iran, the end of the Islamic regime could prove even more consequential for the world than the fall of the Berlin Wall. A far better comparison would be the storming of the Bastille, says Mark Almond – and it may prove just as bloody
This Iranian uprising could be as pivotal as the French Revolution
Iran parliament speaker threatens protestors with harsh punishment
Sunday 11 January 2026 09:00 , Shahana YasminIran’s parliament speaker issued one of the regime’s starkest threats yet against protesters, warning of “severe” punishment as demonstrations continue across the country.
Speaking during a heated session of parliament broadcast live on state television, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf praised police and Iran’s paramilitary forces for their response to the unrest.
“The people of Iran should know that we will deal with them in the most severe way and punish those who are arrested,” Qalibaf said, as lawmakers chanted “death to America” from the chamber floor, reported the Associated Press.
Qalibaf also escalated warnings beyond Iran’s borders, saying any US military attack would be met with retaliation.
“In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centres, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets. We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat.”
The remarks come amid Iran’s largest anti-government protests in years and follow repeated threats from US President Donald Trump of possible intervention.
Reza Pahlavi urges Iranians to keep up street protests
Sunday 11 January 2026 08:40 , Shahana YasminReza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, has urged Iranians to continue taking to the streets, praising what he described as a third consecutive night of large-scale protests against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s rule.
In a message posted on X, formerly Twitter, Pahlavi claimed the protests had weakened the state’s response, saying reports suggested that Iran “is facing a severe shortage of mercenaries to confront the millions of people in the streets,” and some security personnel had “disobeyed orders to suppress the people”.
My compatriots,
— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) January 11, 2026
By your widespread and courageous presence in the streets across Iran for the third consecutive night, you have severely weakened Khamenei’s repressive apparatus and his regime. Reliable reports have reached me indicating that the Islamic Republic is facing a… https://t.co/pJGMpsmBKU
He called on demonstrators to remain in groups and continue gathering in major streets, and pointed to solidarity protests abroad and US president Donald Trump’s statements of support to say Iranians were not alone.
“Do not abandon the streets. My heart is with you. I know that I will soon be by your side.”
What is happening in Iran? Internet blackout and Israel blamed after widespread anti-regime protests
Sunday 11 January 2026 08:20 , Shahana YasminBuildings, buses and shops have been burned to the ground, turning Iran’s capital Tehran into a “war zone” as protests demanding the fall of the country’s supreme leader grow.
At least 116 people have been killed in clashes with police and 2,600 arrested, according to rights groups, who say the toll could be greater since Ayatollah Ali Khameini’s regime has cut off the outside world with a near-total internet blackout.
Here’s what to know about the protests and the challenges facing Iran’s government.
What is happening in Iran? Internet blackout and Israel blamed after mass protests
Iran internet blackout passes 60-hour mark, says monitor
Sunday 11 January 2026 07:55 , Shahana YasminInternet monitoring group NetBlocks said Iran’s nationwide internet blackout has now exceeded 60 hours, with overall connectivity remaining at around 1 per cent of normal levels.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, NetBlocks said network data showed national access continuing to “flatline”, leaving most Iranians unable to communicate online as protests continue.
⚠️ Update: #Iran's internet blackout is now past the 60 hour mark as national connectivity levels continue to flatline around 1% of ordinary levels.
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) January 11, 2026
The censorship measure presents a direct threat to the safety and wellbeing of Iranians at a key moment for the country's future. pic.twitter.com/QoEREOlxj0
“The censorship measure presents a direct threat to the safety and wellbeing of Iranians at a key moment for the country's future,” the group wrote.
Iranian authorities have imposed sweeping internet restrictions amid the protest crackdown, severely curtailing independent reporting from inside the country.
Iranian pop icon Googoosh says she is ‘waiting for a change of regime to happen soon’
Sunday 11 January 2026 07:46 , Shahana YasminIranian singer Googoosh has said she is “waiting for a change of regime to happen soon”, as the country faces renewed nationwide protests over economic hardship and political repression.
“I am living day and night with a mix of anxiety and hope,” the veteran pop icon said in an interview with The Times published on Friday.
“Waiting for a change of regime to happen soon. The people are being brutally suppressed. The killing has not stopped. The situation can no longer wait.”
The current unrest in Iran began on 28 December 2025, initially driven by deepening economic hardship, including soaring inflation, a sharp fall in the value of the rial, and rising food prices. They quickly turned political with protesters demanding an end to clerical rule.
Iranian pop icon Googoosh says she is ‘waiting for a change of regime to happen soon’
Iran warns it will respond to any US attack as Israel remains on alert
Sunday 11 January 2026 07:21 , Shahana YasminIran has warned the US that it would retaliate militarily if Washington launches an attack.
Speaking on Sunday, parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Tehran would treat Israeli territory and American bases as “legitimate targets” in the event of US military action, framing the warning as a direct message to Donald Trump.
The warning comes as Israel is reportedly on high alert, with regional security officials closely monitoring the possibility of US intervention.
US president Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Iran’s leadership against using force on protesters and said the US “stands ready to help”, raising concern in the region about possible escalation.
Iranian officials have accused foreign powers of seeking to exploit the unrest and have increasingly framed the protests as part of a broader external threat.
Israel is on alert as US and Israeli officials discuss Iran protests
Sunday 11 January 2026 06:30 , Shahana YasminIsrael is reportedly on alert over developments in Iran, as senior US and Israeli officials held talks amid mounting unrest and renewed warnings from Washington about possible intervention.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone on Saturday with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to US and Israeli officials. While the US side did not disclose what was discussed, an Israeli source said the situation in Iran and the possibility of US involvement were raised.
Israeli officials are closely monitoring events as Iran faces its largest anti-government demonstrations in years, with Donald Trump repeatedly warning Tehran against using force and saying the United States “stands ready to help”.
This follows Israel’s 12-day direct war with Iran from last year, during which both country’s forces exchanged strikes and US aircraft bombed Iranian nuclear facilities.
Trump says US ‘stands ready to help’ as Iran protests continue
Sunday 11 January 2026 06:10 , Shahana YasminUS president Donald Trump said the US “stands ready to help” Iranian protesters, as demonstrations continue across the country.
“Iran is looking at freedom, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help,” he wrote on Truth Social on Saturday.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that message in a separate post on X, formerly Twitter, saying Washington “supports the brave people of Iran”.
The US State Department also issued a pointed warning to Tehran, saying Iranian leaders should “not play games with President Trump”.
Inside Iran, authorities appeared to move cautiously as Saturday marked the start of the working week. State television said many schools and universities shifted to online classes, while officials continued to project an image of stability as protests persisted elsewhere in the country.
As protests rage, Iran pulls the plug on contact with the world
Sunday 11 January 2026 05:30 , Shahana YasminJust after 8pm Thursday, Iran's theocracy pulled the plug and disconnected the Islamic Republic's 85 million people from the rest of the world.
Following a playbook used both in demonstrations and in war, Iran severed the internet connections and telephone lines that connect its people to the vast diaspora in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. Until now, even while facing strict sanctions over the country's nuclear program, Iranians still could access mobile phone apps and even websites blocked by the theocracy, using virtual private networks to circumvent restrictions.
As the country effectively goes dark, loved ones abroad are frantic for any scrap of news, especially as Iran’s attorney general warned on Saturday that anyone taking part in protests will be considered an “enemy of God,” a death-penalty charge.
As protests rage, Iran pulls the plug on contact with the world
Iran state media claims calm as verified footage shows protests
Sunday 11 January 2026 05:10 , Shahana YasminIranian state television has portrayed a return to calm, telling viewers that there were no significant gatherings overnight in Tehran or other parts of the country and attributing earlier unrest to what it described as violent attacks by armed groups.
A state TV anchor reportedly said: “Field reports indicate that peace prevailed in most cities of the country at night.” They added that there was “no news of any gathering or chaos in Tehran and most provinces last night”.
However, the account has been challenged by video independently verified by the Associated Press, which showed what appeared to be large crowds on the streets of Tehran’s Saadat Abad neighbourhood during the same period.
At the same time, the semi-official Fars News Agency, which is widely regarded as close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, released security camera footage it said showed protesters in Isfahan setting fires and attacking a government compound.
US weighs military strike options against Iran amid protest crackdown
Sunday 11 January 2026 04:50 , Shahana YasminUS officials have been weighing possible military responses against Iran, as President Donald Trump considers whether to act on warnings he has issued over Tehran’s handling of mass protests, according to The New York Times.
The newspaper reported that Trump has been presented with several contingency options in recent days and is actively reviewing them, though no decision has been taken. Officials familiar with the discussions said the scenarios under consideration range in scope and remain internal planning exercises rather than an operational order.
On Saturday, Iran’s armed forces signalled a tougher posture, announcing that it would “firmly safeguard national interests, strategic infrastructure, and public property”.
US officials cited by the Wall Street Journal also said that conversations in Washington have touched on what a response might look like if ordered, while emphasising that no assets have been deployed and there is no indication of imminent action.
The White House has pointed instead to Trump’s recent public statements, including social media posts expressing support for protesters.
“Iran is looking at freedom, perhaps like never before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday. “The USA stands ready to help!!!”
Trump warns Iran 'we’re going to hit very hard’ if protesters are targeted
Sunday 11 January 2026 04:30 , Shahana YasminIran threatens protesters with death penalty
Sunday 11 January 2026 04:10 , Shahana YasminIran’s attorney general Mohammad Movahedi Azad has warned that those taking part in anti-government protests will be considered an “enemy of God” a charge that carries the death penalty.
The threat was reported by state television and comes as protests approach their 14th day. Iran remains largely cut off from the outside world following the shutdown of internet and international phone services.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said at least 116 people have been killed and more than 2,600 detained since demonstrations began. Rights groups say the communications blackout has made it increasingly difficult to assess the scale of the unrest or the state response.
These figures have not been confirmed by Iranian authorities.
Solidarity with protesters shown across the world
Sunday 11 January 2026 03:50 , Dan HaygarthOn Saturday, demonstrations in solidarity with the protesters took place across the world, including in London where a protester climbed onto the balcony of the Iranian embassy.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said those speaking out against the Iranian government should not face “the threat of violence or reprisals”.
She said: “It takes real courage to speak up in an authoritarian system, especially for young women, but it should not require courage just to make your voice heard.
“These are fundamental rights: free speech; peaceful assembly; and the exercise of those rights should never come with the threat of violence or reprisals.
“That is why the UK, France and Germany made the statement we did, and we urge the Iranian authorities to listen.”
Protesters returned to Iran streets in nationwide uprising
Sunday 11 January 2026 03:30 , Dan HaygarthIranian filmmakers condemn internet blackout
Sunday 11 January 2026 03:20 , Shahana YasminJafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof have condemned Iran’s nationwide internet blackout, describing it as a “blatant tool of repression”.
“In recent days, following the presence of millions of Iranians in the streets protesting against the Islamic Republic, the government has once again resorted to its most blatant tools of repression,” they wrote in a joint statement.
They said the authorities had cut off “the internet, mobile phones, and landlines”, severing communication inside Iran and “completely blocking all means of contact with the outside world”.
“Experience has shown that resorting to such measures is intended to conceal the violence inflicted during the suppression of protests.”
Panahi, a Palme d’Or-winning film-maker sentenced in absentia last month to a year in prison for what Iranian authorities described as “propaganda activities”, and Rasoulof, who fled Iran in 2024 while appealing a prison sentence and now lives in exile in Europe, are both long-time critics of the Islamic Republic.
The directors added that they were both “deeply concerned for the lives” of citizens left “defenceless” under the blackout, and urged the international community, human rights groups and independent media to act.
Yvette Cooper urges restraint as Iran protests draw global response
Sunday 11 January 2026 03:04 , Shahana YasminUK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has warned that those speaking out against Iran’s leadership should not face “the threat of violence or reprisals”, as protests continue across the country.
“It takes real courage to speak up in an authoritarian system, especially for young women, but it should not require courage just to make your voice heard,” said Cooper.
“These are fundamental rights: free speech; peaceful assembly; and the exercise of those rights should never come with the threat of violence or reprisals.
“That is why the UK, France and Germany made the statement we did, and we urge the Iranian authorities to listen.”
On Friday, in a joint statement with the leaders of France and Germany, the UK prime minister said he was “deeply concerned about reports of violence by Iranian security forces” and “strongly” condemned the killing of protesters.
100 arrested, Iranian regime claims
Sunday 11 January 2026 03:00 , Dan HaygarthOn Saturday, following a night of protests in several cities including the capital Tehran, the Iranian attorney general warned that anyone taking part would be considered an “enemy of God”, a sentence that carries the death penalty.
On the same day, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps also accused “terrorists” of targeting military and law enforcement bases, while the country’s army said it would join the crackdown to “firmly safeguard national interests”.
Iranian media reported that 100 “armed rioters” in the town of Baharestan near Tehran had been arrested.
