Iran has restricted the entirety of the country’s airspace as US President Donald Trump has threatened strikes over the regime’s brutal crackdown on popular protests.
A Notice-to-Airmen reads that Iran’s airspace will be closed to all flights, except those with previous permission from the Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation.
Meanwhile, the UK has closed its embassy in Tehran and withdrawn staff from Iran and both Poland and Italy have urged citizens to leave the country.
Tehran warned other regional countries that it would attack if the US launched military action on it in response to the deadly repression – which the US president has been threatening for days.
The UK is also pulling staff from a military base in Qatar, and the US is reducing its personnel numbers at its Qatari Al-Udeid air base – the Middle East's largest US base, housing around 10,000 troops.
President Trump is said to be “ready to push the button” on military strikes against Iran if the government starts executing protesters.
Key Points
- UK shuts Tehran embassy
- Staff advised to leave US base in Qatar amid threat of Iran strike
- Iran warns neighbours it will strike US bases if attacked
- Iran death toll rises to at least 2,571, says monitoring group
- Iran restricts airspace for most flights
- Iran says 'hanging is out of the question'
Trump says 'any regime can fall' when pushed on Iran
04:30 , Mike BediganSpeaking to the Reuters news agency in a new interview, US President Donald Trump said it was possible the government in Tehran could fall due to the protests, but added that "any regime can fail."
"Whether or not it falls or not, it's going to be an interesting period of time," he said.
Flights appear to resume as Iranian airspace tentatively reopens
04:15 , Mike BediganSome domestic flights in Iran have appeared to be resuming, shortly after the nation’s airspace was closed to all flights except those with prior permission.
“With the NOTAM [notice to airman] closing Iranian airspace expired, some flights are now making their way toward Tehran,” flight tracker website Flightradar24 said on X.
With the NOTAM closing Iranian airspace expired, some flights are now making their way toward Tehran. https://t.co/IGaj36AUvI pic.twitter.com/Rhs03kbsmr
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 15, 2026
Several commercial flights were airborne Thursday morning local time, and heading towards airports in Tehran, the data showed.
It comes after US President Donald Trump said he has been told that the killing of protesters in Iran had been stopped.
Trump says Iranian opposition figure 'seems very nice'
04:00 , ReutersUS President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi "seems very nice" but expressed uncertainty over whether Pahlavi would be able to muster support within Iran to eventually take over.
"He seems very nice, but I don't know how he'd play within his own country," Trump told Reuters. "And we really aren't up to that point yet.”
The president added: "I don't know whether or not his country would accept his leadership, and certainly if they would, that would be fine with me."
Trump's comments went further in questioning Pahlavi's ability to lead Iran after saying last week that he had no plans to meet with him.
Watch: Iran closes airspace as US escalates attack threats
03:45 , Mike BediganExiled Iranian crown prince says victory is 'so close'
03:30 , Rachel DobkinExiled Crown Prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, said the Iranian people are “so close” to victory as he thanked the US for its support.
“Thank you so much for all your words of support for my compatriots in the darkest time in our history,” Pahlvi said, following a meeting with US Senator Lindsey Graham Wednesday.
“But hopefully, as we say in Iran, in Farsi, the end of the dark night is light, and this is probably the first time we have our so close to victory.”
He added: “To witness the resilience of my compatriots... They are fighting a great fight, and any solidarity can only help them achieve that goal sooner.”
“I believe with all my heart, that help is on the way,” Graham said while sitting next to Pahlavi in a video shared online.
Meeting with @PahlaviReza, the exiled crown prince of Iran.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 14, 2026
We stand with the people of Iran and against the brutal regime.
Make Iran Great Again. pic.twitter.com/4eNcBwIqmQ
US President Donald Trump has threatened strikes over the regime’s brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.
Iranian American warns of total blackout in Tehran, says 'it's not looking good at all'
03:15 , Rachel DobkinAn Iranian American woman has warned of a total blackout in Tehran.
The woman, who now lives in the US after fleeing the Iranian regime, told News Nation White House Correspondent Kellie Meyer that her brother is still in Tehran and she is not able to contact him.
"It’s not looking good at all,” she told Meyer.
Just spoke on the phone with one Iranian American woman that lives here in the U.S. and had previously fled the regime.
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) January 14, 2026
She tells me her brother is still in Tehran, and she cannot contact him. She said it is a complete blackout.
She told me, "It’s not looking good at all."…
Pakistan says it will play role in regional peace
03:00 , Bryony GoochPakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a call Wednesday with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani that Pakistan would continue to play a positive role in maintaining regional peace and stability, a statement from Sharif's office said.
The two leaders discussed recent developments in the Middle East and expressed satisfaction with the current trajectory of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Qatar, according to the statement.
Sharif praised Qatar's role in promoting peace, dialogue and mediation in the region and acknowledged its efforts to defuse tensions through diplomatic means.
Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact in the coming days, the statement said.
France considers sending satellite terminals to Iran to provide internet connectivity
02:30 , Alex CroftFrance's foreign minister has raised the possibility of Paris sending Eutelsat satellite terminals to Iran, where millions of people are living under internet blackout as the Tehran regime looks to suppress ongoing protests.
"We are exploring all options, and the one you have mentioned is among them," Jean-Noel Barrot told lawmakers in parliament responding to a question about sending Eutelsat terminals to Iran.
Watch: Iran minister denies plans for hanging when asked about protests
02:15 , Mike BediganIranians and Germans protest in Berlin
02:00 , Bryony GoochAt a protest march of 900 Iranian exiles and German supporters in Berlin on Wednesday night, Maryam Nejatipur, 32, told The Associated Press how unbearably worried she was about her family back home.
"They're in a complete blackout. We don't have any news," said the former teacher who was forced to leave her home country about two years ago.
She said she didn't know how to get through the days since Iran shut down the internet and phones and she could not longer find out if her family was still alive.
She sobbed and said really she was not only worried about her immediate family but all Iranians. "There are 90 million people inside Iran and they are killing all of them," she said.
Iran extends airspace closure: report
01:49 , Rachel DobkinIran has extended its order to close its airspace to commercial planes, according to the Associated Press.
The airspace closure was announced by Flightradar24 at around 10:20 p.m. GMT Wednesday, saying that it was valid for a little more than two hours.
That order has been extended without explanation as US President Donald Trump has threatened strikes over the regime’s brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.
Air India rerouting flights in region as tensions continue
01:45 , Mike BediganAir India says it is rerouting some of its flights in region as tensions continue.
“Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace, and in view of the safety of our passengers, Air India flights overflying the region are now using an alternative routing, which may lead to delays,” the airline wrote on X.
“Some Air India flights where currently rerouting is not possible are being cancelled.
“Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unforeseen disruption. Safety of our passengers and crew remain top priority.“
#TravelAdvisory
— Air India (@airindia) January 15, 2026
Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace, and in view of the safety of our passengers, Air India flights overflying the region are now using an alternative routing, which may lead to delays. Some Air India flights where…
Watch: Anti-Iranian regime protesters gather in Whitehall
01:30 , Bryony GoochGOP Senator meets with exiled Crown Prince of Iran, says US action must happen 'sooner rather than later'
01:15 , Mike BediganRepublican Senator Lindsey Graham says he is pushing for the US to take action in Iran “sooner rather than later.”
“I believe that President Trump is serious when he says help is on the way,” he told reporters, adding that “an attack on the regime is the only help that really matters.”
Graham also posted a video after meeting with the Exiled Crown Prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi.
“I have followed you your passion the way you articulate the hope of your people,” Graham told Pahlvi.
“It will be up to the people of Iran to pick their next leader. I can't wait until they have a chance to do that, but you are really risen to the occasion... and I believe with all my heart that help is on the way.”
Watch it here:
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is meeting with the Exiled Crown Prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi. pic.twitter.com/fhhQp4X84N
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 14, 2026
Iranian government holds mass funeral
01:00 , Bryony GoochA mass funeral was held in Tehran for some 100 security force members killed in the demonstrations. Tens of thousands of mourners attended, holding Iranian flags and photos of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The caskets, draped in Iranian flags, stood stacked at least three high. Red and white roses and framed photographs of the dead covered them.
In pictures: Protesters across the globe set alight pictures of the Ayatollah
00:42 , Bryony Gooch
US government warns against non-essential travel for citizens in Qatar
00:26 , Mike BediganThe US government says it has urged caution on its staff at the embassy in Qatar, which lies across the Persian Gulf from Iran.
“Given ongoing regional tensions, the U.S. Embassy in Doha has advised its personnel to exercise increased caution and limit non-essential travel to Al Udeid Airbase,” the U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs wrote on X.
“ We recommend U.S. citizens in Qatar do the same. The U.S. Mission to Qatar continues to monitor the situation.”
Qatar: Given ongoing regional tensions, the U.S. Embassy in Doha has advised its personnel to exercise increased caution and limit non-essential travel to Al Udeid Airbase. We recommend U.S. citizens in Qatar do the same. The U.S. Mission to Qatar continues to monitor the… pic.twitter.com/wGXYW8uF0G
— TravelGov (@TravelGov) January 14, 2026
Lufthansa rejig flight operations across Middle East
00:01 , Jane DaltonGermany issued a directive cautioning the country's airlines from entering Iranian airspace, Flightradar24 says.
Lufthansa had rejigged its flight operations across the Middle East amid escalating tensions in the region.
Lufthansa said on Wednesday that it would bypass Iranian and Iraqi airspace until further notice while it would operate only day flights to Tel Aviv and Amman until Monday next week.
🇩🇪✈️🇮🇷⚠️ German authorities have issued a new NOTAM cautioning German airlines from entering Iranian airspace. Lufthansa was scheduled to resume flights to Tehran on Friday. The airline last operated the route in June 2025.
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 14, 2026
A) EDGG EDWW EDMM B) 2601141705 C) 2602102359 E)… pic.twitter.com/MN68wzzSep
Iran says 'hanging is out of the question'
Wednesday 14 January 2026 23:58 , Bryony GoochIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday "there is no plan" by Iran to hang people, when asked about the anti-government protests in the Middle Eastern nation.
"There is no plan for hanging," the foreign minister told Fox News in an interview on the "Special Report with Bret Baier" show. "Hanging is out of the question," he said.
Tehran blames US and Israel again
Wednesday 14 January 2026 23:15 , Jane DaltonTehran is still blaming the US and Israel for starting the popular street activism that has swept the country.
Mohammad Pakpour, commander of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, reiterated claims, without providing evidence, that the US and Israel have instigated the protests, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency.
He added that those countries will "receive the response in the appropriate time".
Iran restricts airspace in new NOTAM
Wednesday 14 January 2026 22:46 , Bryony GoochIran is closing its airspace to all flights except international flights to and from the country with permission, according to Flightradar24.
The NOTAM is valid for a little more than 2 hours.
❌ New NOTAM just issued by Iran closing airspace to all flights except international flights to/from Iran with permission. NOTAM is valid for a little more than 2 hours.
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 14, 2026
Live view of Iranian airspace: https://t.co/8pUMTxjSkS pic.twitter.com/8GTGUZw0po
Iran hints at rapid trials and executions
Wednesday 14 January 2026 22:30 , Jane DaltonIranian officials have signalled that fast trials and executions lie ahead for suspects detained in nationwide protests.
Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, Iran's judiciary chief, said the government must act quickly to punish more than 18,000 people who have been detained through rapid trials and executions.
Activists warned that hangings of detainees could come soon.
Six US Air Force KC-135s depart from Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar
Wednesday 14 January 2026 22:00 , Bryony GoochSix US Air Force KC-135s have departed from Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, according to Flightradar24 after the US announced personnel would be leaving the military base.
Topping our most tracked flights list right now: six US Air Force KC-135s departing Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. https://t.co/ihPOMLNRtN
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 14, 2026
⚠️ All tracked via MLAT, so coverage will be variable. pic.twitter.com/4dr3uSS3rO
Starmer calls out 'sickening repression' and says UK is working on sanctions
Wednesday 14 January 2026 21:29 , Alex CroftThe Government is working with allies on further sanctions against the Iranian regime, the Prime Minister has said.
Speaking at the start of Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Can I start by condemning in the strongest possible terms the sickening repression and murder of protesters in Iran.
“The contrast between the courage of the Iranian people and the brutality of their desperate regime has never been clearer.
“We’ve called out this brutality face to face, we’re working with allies on further sanctions and doing all we can to protect UK nationals.”
Watch: Anti-Iranian regime protesters gather in Whitehall
Wednesday 14 January 2026 21:15 , Bryony GoochNo announcement of first execution of protester
Wednesday 14 January 2026 21:10 , Jane DaltonThere has been no official announcement that Erfan Soltani, believed to be the first person to face execution in Iran’s street protests, was executed today, a family member has told Sky News.
But they said Mr Soltani could still face execution at any time.
The 26-year-old was arrested at home six days ago and rushed through the justice system to face the death penalty, according to the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, a Norwegian organisation.
It reported that the likelihood of his execution within hours was “very high”.
The US State Department said his death would be the first execution of a protester from the demonstrations but not the last.
Ambassador and consular staff withdrawn
Wednesday 14 January 2026 21:04 , Jane DaltonBritain's ambassador and all consular staff have been pulled out of Iran, based on a security assessment and a decision to prioritise staff safety, a British official said.
The embassy will operate remotely, the spokesperson said.
Dozens of Iranians cross border into Turkey amid protest crackdown
Wednesday 14 January 2026 21:01 , Alex CroftDozens of Iranians have crossed the border into Turkey as authorities crackdown on one of the largest wave of protests the Tehran regime has ever seen.
Iranian families and individuals arrived in Turkey's eastern province of Van through the Kapikoy border gate, pulling luggage and other belongings with them as they made their way through the border gate and got on vehicles heading for nearby towns.
Those asked to speak to media declined to do so, expressing fear of repercussions in Iran when they return.
Two diplomats have told Reuters there has been an increase in the numbers of people crossing from Iran to Turkey after several countries advised their citizens to leave.
However, a Turkish security official at the border said that the situation at the gate was not extraordinary, with no notable increase in the numbers arriving, but that developments there were being closely monitored.
High inflation, currency collapse and soaring food prices: The damning numbers behind Iran’s economic implosion
Wednesday 14 January 2026 20:32 , Alex CroftThe Iranian government has imposed a deadly crackdown on protests in Iran with more than 2,400 protesters killed in the past fortnight.
The protests began late last month when a currency crash led thousands of Iranians to take to the streets, spiralling into the most serious threat to the regime in years.
The economic collapse of the country is evident in the value of its local currency, the rial. Morningstar data shows it was around 42,000 rial to the dollar back in mid-December; fast forward to today and it’s more than 1.1m rial to the dollar, having been as high as 1.4m just days ago, an all time low.
In purchasing power terms of goods from outside the country, money is suddenly worth next to nothing for Iranians. Internally the picture isn’t a whole lot better.
The Independent’s Business and Money Editor Karl Matchett reports:
The damning numbers behind Iran’s economic implosion as currency crumbles
UK shuts embassy in Tehran
Wednesday 14 January 2026 20:24 , Bryony GoochKate Devlin, Whitehall Editor reports:
The UK has shut its embassy in Tehran as more European countries urge their citizens to leave Iran.
A government spokesman said: “We have temporarily closed the British Embassy in Tehran, this will now operate remotely. Foreign Office travel advice has now been updated to reflect this consular change.”
Watch: Trump claims the "killing in Iran is stopping" stating there are no plans for executions
Wednesday 14 January 2026 20:14 , Bryony GoochGerman authorities issue caution about airlines entering Iran airspace
Wednesday 14 January 2026 20:11 , Bryony GoochGerman authorities have issued a directive cautioning the country's airlines from entering Iranian airspace, Flightradar24 said on Wednesday.
Iran has stopped 'the killing' says Trump
Wednesday 14 January 2026 20:06 , Bryony GoochAndrew Feinberg, DC Correspondent, reports:
Donald Trump says Iran has stopped “the killing” and there are “no plans for executions”.
"But we've been told that the killing in Iran is stopping, and it's stopped. It's stopping, and there's no plan for executions, or an execution, or executions. So I've been told that a good authority will find out about it. I'm sure if happens, we'll all be very upset, including you will be very upset.
“But that's just gotten to me from information that the killing has stopped, that the executions have stopped. They're not going to have an execution, which a lot of people were talking about for the last couple of days today was going to be the day of execution."
Zelensky supports regime change in Iran as death toll passes 2,500
Wednesday 14 January 2026 20:00 , Alex CroftItaly urges its citizens to leave Iran
Wednesday 14 January 2026 19:39 , Bryony GoochItaly has strongly renewed an appeal to its citizens to leave Iran because of the security situation in the country, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. There are around 600 Italians in Iran, most of them in the Tehran area, it added.
Poland urges citizens to leave Iran
Wednesday 14 January 2026 19:39 , Bryony GoochPolish citizens should leave Iran immediately, the Polish foreign ministry said on Wednesday. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges the immediate departure from Iran and advises against all travel to this country," it said in a post on X
Lavrov says Moscow must keep working with Iran
Wednesday 14 January 2026 19:28 , Alex CroftRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow needed to keep working with Iran to implement their bilateral agreements and that no other country could change the nature of ties between Russia and Iran.
Lavrov was speaking at a news conference in Moscow.
A senior Iranian official told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday that Tehran had warned neighbouring countries hosting US troops that it would retaliate against American bases if Washington carries out threats to intervene in protests in Iran.
Who is Erfan Soltani and why is Iran expected to execute the protestor today?
Wednesday 14 January 2026 18:59 , Alex CroftAn Iranian protester is facing execution on Wednesday over his alleged involvement in protests sweeping the nation, rights groups have claimed.
Erfan Soltani, 26, could become the first person to be sentenced to death for participating in protests that have rocked the country over the last two weeks.
Mr Soltani was arrested at his home six days ago and rushed through the justice system to face the death penalty on Wednesday as the regime steps up its brutal crackdown on dissent, according to the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, an independent NGO based in Norway.
Read more here:
Who is Erfan Soltani and why is Iran expected to execute protester today?
Trump ‘ready to push the button’ on airstrikes in Iran as US personnel evacuate military base
Wednesday 14 January 2026 18:45 , Bryony Gooch
Trump is ‘ready to push the button’ on airstrikes in Iran as US staff evacuate base
Family of Erfan Soltani protests for his release outside prison - report
Wednesday 14 January 2026 18:30 , Alex CroftThe family of Erfan Soltani, who a rights group says will become the first person to be executed in Iran in connection with the latest protests, made a desperate bid to save him, according to a report.
Mr Soltani, 26, is one of the nearly 20,000 people who have been arrested, according to HRANA. But according to the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, he will be first to face execution.
Last night, his family protested outside the Ghezel Hesar prison where he is being held in solitary confinement, a member of the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights told the Daily Mail.
In pictures: RAF planes at Al Udeid air base
Wednesday 14 January 2026 18:15 , Bryony Gooch
Senior Iranian commander warns Tehran at 'peak of our readiness'
Wednesday 14 January 2026 18:02 , Alex CroftA senior commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has warned that Tehran is at the “peak of our readiness” to respond to any attack by US forces.
Brigadier general Seyyed Majid Mousavi also said Iran’s missile stockpile has increased since June - when the Twelve-Day war saw Iran, Israel and the US trade blows
UK withdrawing military personnel from air base in Qatar
Wednesday 14 January 2026 17:38 , Bryony GoochKate Devlin, Whitehall Editor, reports:
The UK is withdrawing military personnel from a US-run base in Qatar, The Independent understands.
It follows the US also pulling staff from the Al Udeid Air Base.And it comes after Donald Trump told protesters in Iran that "help is on its way" as he promised "very strong action" if Tehran goes ahead with planned executions.
Iran has repeatedly said it will retaliate against US military sites in the region if America attacks.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We do not comment on details of basing and deployments due to operational security.
“The UK always puts precautionary measures in place to ensure the security and safety of our personnel, including where necessary withdrawing personnel.”
Turkey in contacts with US and Iran
Wednesday 14 January 2026 17:31 , Alex CroftTurkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan has spoken over the phone to Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry source.
Mr Fidan stressed the need for talks to resolve current regional tensions in a call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday.
A Turkish diplomatic source separately said Turkey was also in touch with US officials, following Donald Trump's threats to strike Iran.
Erfan Soltani: Who is the Iranian protester to be executed?
Wednesday 14 January 2026 17:00 , Alex CroftIranian officials intensify diplomatic contacts
Wednesday 14 January 2026 16:29 , Alex CroftIranian officials have intensified talks with international governments in recent days, as it looks to address the scrutiny of its repression of the protests.
Diplomatic contacts have been made between officials in Tehran and their counterparts in Qatar, Turkey, Iraq and France.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had also spoke with his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates, one of Iran's big trading partner, but also a close ally to both the US and Israel.
Araghchi told Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan that "calm has prevailed [in Iran] thanks to the vigilance of the people and law enforcement forces". He said Iranians are determined to defend their national sovereignty and security against any foreign interference, said the Iranian foreign ministry.
He also spoke on Tuesday with France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot, and called on him to condemn "foreign interventionist in the internal affairs" of Iran.
France had summoned the Iranian ambassador over the "unbearable and inhumane" crackdown by Iranian authorities to quell protests across the country.
Direct US-Iranian communications cut after Trump threats, says Tehran
Wednesday 14 January 2026 16:04 , Alex CroftDirect communications between Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff have been suspended, Reuters news agency is reporting.
It comes in response to Donald Trump's threats to intervene amid nationwide protests in Iran.
A senior Iranian official told the news agency that US threats undermine diplomatic efforts and that potential meetings between the two officials to find a diplomatic solution to a decades-long nuclear dispute have been cancelled.
Comment | Trump has finally stumbled on a target for his ugly tariff war
Wednesday 14 January 2026 15:36 , Alex CroftDonald Trump can get some things right.
I say that with some hesitancy, given the fact that, in my opinion, his behaviour and policies represent a working definition of modern fascism, but the imposition of penal secondary tariffs of 25 per cent for countries that do business with Iran is one such.
At this critical juncture in Iran’s counter-revolution, any peaceful assistance that can be supplied to the Iranian people must, on balance, be the right thing to do. The move will add indirect pressure onto the regime in Iran via the effects on exports, principally oil, which fund the country’s leadership, security infrastructure and, of course, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the only people to do well out of theocratic rule.
The Independent’s associate editor Sean O’Grady writes:
In Iran, Trump has finally stumbled on a proper target for his ugly tariff war
Qatar says precautionary measures taken in US air base in the country
Wednesday 14 January 2026 15:11 , Alex CroftQatar said precautionary measures had been taken at the US-run Al Udeid Air Base, including the departure of some personnel, because of rising regional tensions, according to its International Media Office.
The office said the steps were part of broader efforts to safeguard the security of citizens and residents and to protect critical infrastructure and military facilities, adding that any further developments would be announced through official channels.
Trump waiting for 'accurate' numbers of protesters killed in Iran, then will 'act accordingly'
Wednesday 14 January 2026 14:40 , Alex CroftFrance considers sending satellite terminals to Iran to provide internet connectivity
Wednesday 14 January 2026 14:19 , Alex CroftFrance's foreign minister has raised the possibility of Paris sending Eutelsat satellite terminals to Iran, where millions of people are living under internet blackout as the Tehran regime looks to suppress ongoing protests.
"We are exploring all options, and the one you have mentioned is among them," Jean-Noel Barrot told lawmakers in parliament responding to a question about sending Eutelsat terminals to Iran.
Starmer calls out 'sickening repression' and says UK is working on sanctions
Wednesday 14 January 2026 14:11 , Alex CroftThe Government is working with allies on further sanctions against the Iranian regime, the Prime Minister has said.
Speaking at the start of Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Can I start by condemning in the strongest possible terms the sickening repression and murder of protesters in Iran.
“The contrast between the courage of the Iranian people and the brutality of their desperate regime has never been clearer.
“We’ve called out this brutality face to face, we’re working with allies on further sanctions and doing all we can to protect UK nationals.”
Dozens of Iranians cross border into Turkey amid protest crackdown
Wednesday 14 January 2026 13:54 , Alex CroftDozens of Iranians have crossed the border into Turkey as authorities crackdown on one of the largest wave of protests the Tehran regime has ever seen.
Iranian families and individuals arrived in Turkey's eastern province of Van through the Kapikoy border gate, pulling luggage and other belongings with them as they made their way through the border gate and got on vehicles heading for nearby towns.
Those asked to speak to media declined to do so, expressing fear of repercussions in Iran when they return.
Two diplomats have told Reuters there has been an increase in the numbers of people crossing from Iran to Turkey after several countries advised their citizens to leave.
However, a Turkish security official at the border said that the situation at the gate was not extraordinary, with no notable increase in the numbers arriving, but that developments there were being closely monitored.
Bulletin | US tells staff to leave military base in Qatar as Iran ramps up attack threat
Wednesday 14 January 2026 13:35 , Alex CroftAll you need to know in just five bullet points.
- US military staff at Al Udeid base in Qatar have been advised to leave amid escalating tensions with Iran.
- Tehran has warned it would target American interests in the region if Donald Trump orders military action against Iran.
- This warning follows Donald Trump's threats of 'very strong action' if Iran proceeds with executing protesters.
- One protester, 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, is reportedly scheduled to be the first person executed in connection with the ongoing unrest.
- A rights group has verified 2,571 deaths during Iran's protests, including 2,403 protesters and 147 government-affiliated individuals.
High inflation, currency collapse and soaring food prices: The damning numbers behind Iran’s economic implosion
Wednesday 14 January 2026 13:20 , Alex CroftThe Iranian government has imposed a deadly crackdown on protests in Iran with more than 2,400 protesters killed in the past fortnight.
The protests began late last month when a currency crash led thousands of Iranians to take to the streets, spiralling into the most serious threat to the regime in years.
The economic collapse of the country is evident in the value of its local currency, the rial. Morningstar data shows it was around 42,000 rial to the dollar back in mid-December; fast forward to today and it’s more than 1.1m rial to the dollar, having been as high as 1.4m just days ago, an all time low.
In purchasing power terms of goods from outside the country, money is suddenly worth next to nothing for Iranians. Internally the picture isn’t a whole lot better.
The damning numbers behind Iran’s economic implosion as currency crumbles
France suspects Iran crackdown might be most violent in recent history
Wednesday 14 January 2026 12:59 , Alex CroftFrance suspects that Iran's crackdown on demonstrations across the country is the most violent in the country's contemporary history, French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday.
"What we suspect is that this is the most violent repression in Iran's contemporary history and that it must absolutely stop," Mr Barrot said.
A human rights expert also described the ongoing crackdown in Iran as one of the most severe in recent memory.
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme how the speed and scale of the crackdown compares to previous protests, Awyer Shekhi, from Kurdish human rights organisation Hengaw, said such measures have been seen before but “not as severe as this time”.
"We have never witnessed this scale of mass killings in the big cities like Tehran,” she said.
"We believe that Iranian government is doing all of this to spread more fear among the people, to kind of use this to control the population, to not allow any more protests to happen."
Russia rallies behind Iran as US weighs strikes
Wednesday 14 January 2026 12:49 , James ReynoldsRussia’s veteran foreign minister Sergei Lavrov says that Moscow needs to keep working with Iran despite ‘unreliable’ US behaviour.
"Our American colleagues look unreliable when they act in this way," he told a news conference in Moscow.
He also said Washington was threatening to destroy the international order it helped build with its recent operations in Venezuela.
Trump says ‘Iran should behave’ in warning over nuclear tensions
Wednesday 14 January 2026 12:37 , Alex CroftEU draws up new sanctions against Iranian officials
Wednesday 14 January 2026 12:17 , Alex CroftEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says new sanctions will be imposed on Iranian officials over the crackdown on protesters.
"The rising number of casualties in Iran is horrifying. I unequivocally condemn the excessive use of force and continued restriction of freedom," von der Leyen said in a post on social media.
She said that in cooperation with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas "further sanctions on those responsible for the repression will be swiftly proposed. We stand with the people of Iran who are bravely marching for their liberty”.
The EU has already imposed sanctions on members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps and others over past concerns about human rights abuses in Iran.
Lavrov says Moscow must keep working with Iran
Wednesday 14 January 2026 11:56 , Alex CroftRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow needed to keep working with Iran to implement their bilateral agreements and that no other country could change the nature of ties between Russia and Iran.
Lavrov was speaking at a news conference in Moscow.
A senior Iranian official told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday that Tehran had warned neighbouring countries hosting US troops that it would retaliate against American bases if Washington carries out threats to intervene in protests in Iran.
Who is Erfan Soltani and why is Iran expected to execute the protestor today?
Wednesday 14 January 2026 11:17 , Alex CroftAn Iranian protester is facing execution on Wednesday over his alleged involvement in protests sweeping the nation, rights groups have claimed.
Erfan Soltani, 26, could become the first person to be sentenced to death for participating in protests that have rocked the country over the last two weeks.
Mr Soltani was arrested at his home six days ago and rushed through the justice system to face the death penalty on Wednesday as the regime steps up its brutal crackdown on dissent, according to the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, an independent NGO based in Norway.
Who is Erfan Soltani and why is Iran expected to execute protestor today?
Family of Erfan Soltani protests for his release outside prison - report
Wednesday 14 January 2026 11:16 , Alex CroftThe family of Erfan Soltani, who a rights group says will become the first person to be executed in Iran in connection with the latest protests, made a desperate bid to save him, according to a report.
Mr Soltani, 26, is one of the nearly 20,000 people who have been arrested, according to HRANA. But according to the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, he will be first to face execution.
Last night, his family protested outside the Ghezel Hesar prison where he is being held in solitary confinement, a member of the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights told the Daily Mail.
Latest images coming out of Iran
Wednesday 14 January 2026 10:58 , Alex Croft
Senior Iranian commander warns Tehran at 'highest level of readiness'
Wednesday 14 January 2026 10:33 , Alex CroftA senior commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has warned that Tehran is at the “peak of our readiness” to respond to any attack by US forces.
Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Mousavi also said Iran’s missile stockpile has increased since June - when the Twelve-Day war saw Iran, Israel and the UStrade blows
US staff advised to leave US base in Qatar amid threat of Iran strike
Wednesday 14 January 2026 09:48 , Alex CroftSome personnel were advised to leave the U.S. military's Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar by Wednesday evening, three diplomats told Reuters.
Iran has warned countries in the region that it will strike US bases if Washington decides to carry out attacks in Iran - something which Donald Trump has been threatening for days.
The US embassy in Doha has not commented.
Al Udeid is the Middle East's largest US base housing around 10,000 troops. Ahead of the US air strikes on Iran in June some personnel were moved off US bases in the Middle East.
Turkey in contacts with US and Iran
Wednesday 14 January 2026 09:43 , Alex CroftTurkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan has spoken over the phone to Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry source.
Mr Fidan stressed the need for talks to resolve current regional tensions in a call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday.
A Turkish diplomatic source separately said Turkey was also in touch with US officials, following Donald Trump's threats to strike Iran.
Iran state TV offers first official acknowledgement of high protester death toll
Wednesday 14 January 2026 09:23 , Alex CroftDirect US-Iranian communications cut after Trump threats, says Tehran
Wednesday 14 January 2026 09:06 , Alex CroftDirect communications between Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff have been suspended, Reuters news agency is reporting.
It comes in response to Donald Trump's threats to intervene amid nationwide protests in Iran.
A senior Iranian official told the news agency that US threats undermine diplomatic efforts and that potential meetings between the two officials to find a diplomatic solution to a decades-long nuclear dispute have been cancelled.
Iran warns neighbours it will strike US bases if attacked
Wednesday 14 January 2026 08:50 , Alex CroftIran has warned regional countries that it will strike US military bases in those countries in case of an American attack on its soil, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday.
The remarks follow President Donald Trump's threats to intervene amid nationwide anti-government protests.
"Tehran has told regional countries, from Saudi Arabia and UAE to Turkey, that U.S. bases in those countries will be attacked if U.S. targets Iran... asking these countries to prevent Washington from attacking Iran," the official told Reuters.
Comment | Trump has finally stumbled on a target for his ugly tariff war
Wednesday 14 January 2026 08:36 , Alex CroftDonald Trump can get some things right.
I say that with some hesitancy, given the fact that, in my opinion, his behaviour and policies represent a working definition of modern fascism, but the imposition of penal secondary tariffs of 25 per cent for countries that do business with Iran is one such.
At this critical juncture in Iran’s counter-revolution, any peaceful assistance that can be supplied to the Iranian people must, on balance, be the right thing to do. The move will add indirect pressure onto the regime in Iran via the effects on exports, principally oil, which fund the country’s leadership, security infrastructure and, of course, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the only people to do well out of theocratic rule.
The Independent’s associate editor Sean O’Grady writes:
In Iran, Trump has finally stumbled on a target for his ugly tariff war
Ongoing crackdown is the worst in recent history, warns human rights expert
Wednesday 14 January 2026 08:19 , Alex CroftA human rights expert has described the ongoing crackdown in Iran as one of the most severe in recent memory.
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme how the speed and scale of the crackdown compares to previous protests, Awyer Shekhi, from Kurdish human rights organisation Hengaw, said such measures have been seen before but “not as severe as this time”.
"We have never witnessed this scale of mass killings in the big cities like Tehran,” she said.
"We believe that Iranian government is doing all of this to spread more fear among the people, to kind of use this to control the population, to not allow any more protests to happen."
China again weighs in on Trump's military threats
Wednesday 14 January 2026 08:02 , Alex CroftChina has once again weighed in on Donald Trump’s threats to take military action in Iran, stating that it opposes any outside interference in Iran’s internal affairs.
Beijing does not condone the use or the threat of force in international relations, Mao Ning, spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry, said at a regular news conference when asked about China's position following Trump's comments.
Trump told CBS News in an interview that the United States would take "very strong action" if Iran starts hanging protesters.
Trump also urged protesters to keep protesting and said that help was on the way.
Erfan Soltani: Who is the Iranian protester to be executed?
Wednesday 14 January 2026 07:49 , Alex CroftIranian officials intensify diplomatic contacts
Wednesday 14 January 2026 07:32 , Alex CroftIranian officials have intensified talks with international governments in recent days, as it looks to address the scrutiny of its repression of the protests.
Diplomaric contacts have been made between officials in Tehran and their counterparts in Qatar, Turkey, Iraq and France.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had also spoke with his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates, one of Iran's big trading partner, but also a close ally to both the US and Israel.
Araghchi told Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan that "calm has prevailed [in Iran] thanks to the vigilance of the people and law enforcement forces". He said Iranians are determined to defend their national sovereignty and security against any foreign interference, said the Iranian foreign ministry.
He also spoke on Tuesday with France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot, and called on him to condemn "foreign interventionist in the internal affairs" of Iran.
France had summoned the Iranian ambassador over the "unbearable and inhumane" crackdown by Iranian authorities to quell protests across the country.
France suspects Iran crackdown might be most violent in recent history
Wednesday 14 January 2026 07:18 , Alex CroftFrance suspects that Iran's crackdown on demonstrations across the country is the most violent in the country's contemporary history, French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday.
"What we suspect is that this is the most violent repression in Iran's contemporary history and that it must absolutely stop," Mr Barrot said.
EU draws up new sanctions against Iranian officials
Wednesday 14 January 2026 07:00 , Namita SinghEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says new sanctions will be imposed on Iranian officials over the crackdown on protesters.
"The rising number of casualties in Iran is horrifying. I unequivocally condemn the excessive use of force and continued restriction of freedom," von der Leyen said in a post on social media.
She said that in cooperation with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas "further sanctions on those responsible for the repression will be swiftly proposed. We stand with the people of Iran who are bravely marching for their liberty”.
The EU has already imposed sanctions on members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps and others over past concerns about human rights abuses in Iran.
Iran set to execute protester just six days after his arrest, rights group warns
Wednesday 14 January 2026 06:45 , Namita SinghThe Iranian regime is due to execute a demonstrator on Wednesday over his alleged involvement in the protests sweeping the nation, rights groups have claimed.
Erfan Soltani, a resident of Fardis, just west of Tehran, could become the first person to be sentenced to death for participating in protests that have rocked the country over the last two weeks.
Mr Soltani, 26, was arrested at his home just six days ago and rushed through the justice system to face the death penalty on Wednesday as the regime steps up its brutal crackdown on dissent, according to the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, an independent NGO based in Norway.
More in this report:
Iranian protester ‘to be executed’ amid brutal crackdown, rights group says
Video: Trump waiting for 'accurate' numbers of protesters killed in Iran, then will 'act accordingly'
Wednesday 14 January 2026 06:35 , Namita SinghGermany and France summon Iranian ambassadors
Wednesday 14 January 2026 06:30 , Namita SinghGermany and France say they summoned their respective Iranian ambassador on Tuesday to protest the crackdown against demonstrators.
The German ministry wrote in a social media post that "the Iranian regime's brutal action against its own population is shocking."
It called on Iran to end the use of violence against its own people and "respect their rights”.
French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot denounced Iran's repression of protesters, which Barrot called "intolerable, unbearable, and inhumane".
Addressing lawmakers at France's National Assembly, Barrot said that France "condemned the repression in the strongest possible terms, denouncing this state violence that was unleashed blindly upon peaceful protesters”.
"I have conveyed this condemnation to the Iranian foreign minister and it will be reiterated to the Iranian ambassador to France, whom I summoned today to the Foreign Ministry," he added.
What happens next in Iran?
Wednesday 14 January 2026 06:24 , Namita SinghRegime change, a return to monarchy or a bloody authoritarian crackdown? What are the future scenarios for Iran, asks chief international correspondent Bel Trew
From all-out war with US to a return of an exiled prince: What happens next in Iran?
ICYMI: Trump sends message of solidarity to Iranian protesters
Wednesday 14 January 2026 06:15 , Namita SinghDonald Trump has sent a message to Iranian protesters that “help is on its way” as nationwide unrest grips the country amid a deadly crackdown on dissent.’
At least 2,000 people have been killed and thousands more arrested, according to human rights groups, with an impenetrable media blackout still in place.
The American leader called for demonstrations, triggered initially by a spiralling economy, to continue and warned Iran would “pay a big price” for the killings.
Report:
Trump sends message to Iranian protesters: ‘Help is on its way’
Russia strongly criticises US threats to strike Iran
Wednesday 14 January 2026 06:00 , Namita SinghRussia's foreign ministry called on Tuesday the threats "categorically unacceptable".
The ministry warned in a statement that any such strikes would have "disastrous consequences" for the situation in the Middle East and global security. It also criticised what it called "brazen attempts to blackmail Iran's foreign partners by raising trade tariffs”.
The statement noted that the protests in Iran had been triggered by social and economic problems resulting from Western sanctions.
It also denounced "hostile external forces" for trying to "exploit the resulting growing social tension to destabilise and destroy the Iranian state" and charged that "specially trained and armed provocateurs acting on instructions from abroad" sought to provoke violence.
The ministry voiced hope that the situation in Iran will gradually stabilise and advised Russian citizens in the Islamic Republic not to visit crowded places.
Iran to hold funeral for security forces killed in protests
Wednesday 14 January 2026 05:45 , Namita SinghIranian state TV says officials will hold a funeral on Wednesday for the "martyrs and security defenders" who have died in the nationwide protests that have intensified in the last week.
The semiofficial Tasnim news agency, believed to be close to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, stated that the funeral will take place at Tehran University and will be the first among many state funerals held for security forces in the coming days.
Iran death toll rises to at least 2,571, says monitoring group
Wednesday 14 January 2026 05:39 , Namita SinghThe US-based rights group HRANA said on Wednesday it had verified the deaths of 2,571 people during Iran's protests.
That figure incudes 2,403 protesters, 147 government-affiliated individuals, twelve people aged under 18 and nine non-protester civilians.
The group has been providing a running death toll throughout the protests, based on local activists on the ground confirming reported casualties.
Iranian and Qatari officials discuss Iran protests
Wednesday 14 January 2026 05:30 , Namita SinghIranian and Qatari officials spoke on Tuesday about the deadly protests in Iran and America's escalating threats to intervene.
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, spoke by phone with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's prime minister.
In a statement on X, Al Thani said he "reaffirmed the State of Qatar's backing of all de-escalation efforts, as well as peaceful solutions to enhance security and stability in the region".
Qatar got caught in the crossfire during Israel's 12-day war in June when the Islamic Republic retaliated against US airstrikes on its nuclear facilities by targeting US forces at the Al Udeid Air Base outside of Doha.
Satellite internet provider Starlink now offering free service inside Iran
Wednesday 14 January 2026 05:15 , Namita SinghElon Musk's satellite internet provider Starlink has begun operating a free service for people in Iran, activists said on Wednesday.
Mehdi Yahyanejad, a Los Angeles-based activist who has helped get the Starlink kits into Iran, told the Associated Press that the free service had started. Other activists also confirmed in messages online that the service was free.
Starlink has been the only way for Iranians to communicate with the outside world since authorities shut down the internet on Thursday night as nationwide protests swelled and they began a bloody crackdown against demonstrators.
Starlink itself did not immediately acknowledge the decision.
Iran eases some communications restrictions as activists say death toll surpasses 2,000
Wednesday 14 January 2026 05:00 , Namita SinghIran eased some restrictions on its people and, for the first time in days, allowed them to make phone calls abroad via their mobile phones on Tuesday.
It did not ease restrictions on the internet or permit texting services to be restored as the death toll from days of bloody protests against the state rose to over 2,000.
Although Iranians were able to call abroad, people outside the country could not call them, several people in the capital told The Associated Press.
The witnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said SMS text messaging still was down and internet users inside Iran could not access anything abroad, although there were local connections to government-approved websites.
It was unclear if restrictions would ease further after authorities cut off all communications inside the country and to the outside world late Thursday.
The satellite internet service Starlink has been the only way for Iranians to share videos and photos of the demonstrations with the outside world via since authorities shut down the internet Thursday night.
In an effort to get around the restrictions, Starlink began offering free service in Iran, activists said Wednesday. Starlink itself did not immediately acknowledge the decision.
Iran’s UN envoy expresses concern over Trump’s interventionist rhetoric
Wednesday 14 January 2026 04:40 , Namita SinghIran’s UN envoy has penned a letter to the UN Security Council opposing Donald Trump’s “interventionist rhetoric” towards the country and criticising the US president for explicitly encouraging “political destabilisation”.
Criticising Trump’s post calling on protesters to take over Iranian institutions, he said it “incites and invites violence, and threatens the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.
U.S. fantasies and policy toward Iran are rooted in regime change, with sanctions, threats, engineered unrest, and chaos serving as the modus operandi to manufacture a pretext for military intervention. This playbook has failed before. The Iranian people will defend their… pic.twitter.com/aBvww5JqWQ
— I.R.IRAN Mission to UN, NY (@Iran_UN) January 13, 2026
“The statement explicitly made today by the President of the United States, calling for the ‘taking over of institutions,’ must be understood in the context of the failure of the 12-day war of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran in June 2025, and as an integral component of a broader regime-change policy,” said Iran’s UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani.
“The United States and the Israeli regime bear direct and undeniable legal responsibility for the resulting loss of innocent civilian lives, particularly among the youth,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump urged Iranians to keep up their protests, adding: "Help is on the way."
Trump calls on Tehran to show protesters humanity
Wednesday 14 January 2026 04:20 , Namita SinghPresident Donald Trump was consulting with his national security team on Tuesday about possible next steps to take on Iran, as he looked to get a better understanding of the number of Iranian citizens who have been killed and arrested in more than two weeks of unrest throughout the country.
Trump said he believes that the killing is "significant" and that his administration would "act accordingly." He added that he believed the Iranian government was "badly misbehaving”.
But the president said he has yet to receive a confirmed number of Iranians killed in the protests that began late last month, saying he has heard "five different sets of numbers" about the death toll.
Since the protests began on 28 December, 16,700 people have been arrested and more than 2,500 have been killed, the vast majority protesters, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. The organisation is based in the US and relies on a network of activists inside Iran to confirm reported fatalities.
"The message is they've got to show humanity," Trump said of the Iranian government. "They've got a big problem. And I hope they're not going to be killing people."
Concerns about surge in executions as Iran airs 97 confessions
Wednesday 14 January 2026 04:00 , Namita SinghActivists have raised alarm over a surge in executions connected to the latest protests, as Iranian state media aired at least 97 confessions from protesters, many expressing remorse for their actions since the protest began on 28 December.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency says that based on testimony from prior detainees, the confessions often come after psychological or physical torture – and can have serious consequences, including the death penalty.
"These rights violations compound on top of each other and lead to horrible outcomes. This is a pattern that's been implemented by the regime time and time again," said Skylar Thompson, the group's deputy director.
Thompson said she is "gravely concerned" over a surge in executions connected to the latest protests, adding that many of the video confessions are serious security-related offences that carry the death penalty.
By comparison, from 2010 to 2020, there were around 350 forced confessions broadcast on state media, according to the activist groups Justice for Iran and the International Federation for Human Rights, the last major study compiled by activists.
The rights group Together Against the Death Penalty said there were 40 to 60 confessions aired in 2025.
In 2024, Iran executed 975 people, the highest number since 2015, according to a report by the United Nations. Four of the executions were carried out publicly. Iran carries out executions by hanging.
According to the UN report, most people in Iran are executed for drug-related offences or murder.
In 2024, security-related offences, such as espionage, accounted for just three per cent of the executions.
Tehran is known to have executed 12 people for espionage since the 12-day war in June between Israel and Iran.
The most recent execution for espionage was last week, when Iran said it executed a man who was accused of spying for Israel's Mossad spy agency in exchange for cryptocurrency. The state-run IRNA news agency said the man confessed to the spying charges.
Activists say Iran has aired at least 97 coerced confessions from protesters, often after torture
Wednesday 14 January 2026 03:40 , Namita SinghThey are shown handcuffed, their faces blurred. The confession videos, broadcast on Iranian state media, feature dramatic background music interspersed with clips appearing to show protesters attacking security forces.
Some showcase gruesome homemade weapons that authorities claim were used in the attacks. Others highlight suspects in grainy security footage, appearing to set fires or destroy property.
Iran alleges these confessions, which often include references to Israel or America, are proof of foreign plots behind Iran's nationwide protests.
Report:
Activists say Iran has aired nearly 100 coerced confessions from protesters, often after torture
A timeline of Iran's growing protest movement
Wednesday 14 January 2026 03:20 , James Reynolds28 December: Protests break out in two major markets in downtown Tehran, after the Iranian rial plunged to a new record low.
29 December: The central bank head resigns as the protests spread and police fire tear gas at protesters.
30 December: President Masoud Pezeshkian vows to work with business leaders to hear their demands as university campuses join protests.
31 December: Protests in Fasa allegedly turn violent after crowds break into the governor’s office.
1 January: The protests' first fatalities are officially reported, with authorities saying at least seven people have been killed.
2 January: Trump threatens Iran if it kills peaceful protesters.
3 January: Khamenei greenlights security forces to crack down on dissent. Protests reach 170 locations with 15 dead.
8 January: The government blocks the internet after Reza Pahlavi calls on citizens to act.
9 January: Iran ramps up threats of punishment with 65 reported killed and 2,300 detained.
11 January: 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.
12 January: Trump announces 25 per cent tariffs on any country doing business with Iran. The ISW reports protests have thinned significantly since their peak on 8 January, likely due to the internet blackouts.
13 January: HRANA reports more than 2,000 verified deaths as Donald Trump tells protesters that help is “on the way”. Russia backs Iran, denouncing “subversive external interference” and saying Trump’s threat of strikes is “categorically unacceptable”.
Recap: Iranian protester to be executed tomorrow as regime steps up brutal crackdown, rights group claims
Wednesday 14 January 2026 03:00 , James ReynoldsErfan Soltani, a resident of Fardis, just west of Tehran, could become the first person to be sentenced to death for participating in protests that have rocked the country over the last two weeks.
Mr Soltani, 26, was arrested at his home just six days ago and rushed through the justice system to face the death penalty on Wednesday as the regime steps up its brutal crackdown on dissent, according to the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, an independent NGO based in Norway.
Read the full story:
Iranian protester ‘to be executed tomorrow’ amid brutal crackdown, rights group says
Recap: Yvette Cooper announces 'full and further sanctions' on Iran
Wednesday 14 January 2026 02:00 , James ReynoldsICYMI: Trump sends Iran an ominous warning and tells protesters help is 'on the way'
Wednesday 14 January 2026 01:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump on Tuesday told Iranians to keep protesting and said help was on the way, without giving details.
"Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!... HELP IS ON ITS WAY," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
He added that he had cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the "senseless killing" of protesters stopped.
How Iran is ‘jamming’ Starlink satellites to stop horror of protest crackdown reaching the outside world
Wednesday 14 January 2026 00:00 , James ReynoldsAs concern mounts that the blackout is concealing atrocities against protesters, there have been growing calls for the US to assist in restoring connectivity in Iran.
Donald Trump on Sunday promised he would speak to Musk about using his Starlink service to restore internet across the country.
The Independent’s Alex Croft looks at how Iran is ‘jamming’ Starlink satellites to stop the horrors of the protest crackdown from getting out:
Iran ‘jamming’ Starlink to stop horror of protest crackdown reaching the world
Iran accuse Trump of encouraging political destabilisation
Tuesday 13 January 2026 23:20 , Bryony GoochIran accused US president Donald Trump on Tuesday of encouraging political destabilisation, inciting violence, and threatening the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security, Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani wrote to the US Security Council.
"The United States and the Israeli regime bear direct and undeniable legal responsibility for the resulting loss of innocent civilian lives, particularly among the youth, he wrote in the letter, which was also sent to UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres.
He wrote the letter in response to a social media post by Trump earlier on Tuesday.
A timeline of Iran's growing protest movement
Tuesday 13 January 2026 23:00 , James Reynolds28 December: Protests break out in two major markets in downtown Tehran, after the Iranian rial plunged to a new record low.
29 December: The central bank head resigns as the protests spread and police fire tear gas at protesters.
30 December: President Masoud Pezeshkian vows to work with business leaders to hear their demands as university campuses join protests.
31 December: Protests in Fasa allegedly turn violent after crowds break into the governor’s office.
1 January: The protests' first fatalities are officially reported, with authorities saying at least seven people have been killed.
2 January: Trump threatens Iran if it kills peaceful protesters.
3 January: Khamenei greenlights security forces to crack down on dissent. Protests reach 170 locations with 15 dead.
8 January: The government blocks the internet after Reza Pahlavi calls on citizens to act.
9 January: Iran ramps up threats of punishment with 65 reported killed and 2,300 detained.
11 January: 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.
12 January: Trump announces 25 per cent tariffs on any country doing business with Iran. The ISW reports protests have thinned significantly since their peak on 8 January, likely due to the internet blackouts.
13 January: HRANA reports more than 2,000 verified deaths as Donald Trump tells protesters that help is “on the way”. Russia backs Iran, denouncing “subversive external interference” and saying Trump’s threat of strikes is “categorically unacceptable”.
Watch: Trump threatens ‘very strong action’ if Iran starts hanging protesters
Tuesday 13 January 2026 22:45 , Bryony GoochAmericans urged to flee Iran
Tuesday 13 January 2026 22:15 , Bryony GoochAmericans have been urged to flee Iran by the US department of state consular affairs.
It comes as Iran is set to carry out its first execution of a protester accused of taking part in the demonstrations.
Iran: U.S. citizens should leave Iran now. Consider departing by land to Türkiye or Armenia, if safe to do so. Protests across Iran continue to escalate. Increased security measures, road closures, public transportation disruptions, and internet blockages are ongoing. The… pic.twitter.com/w9suu499Ef
— TravelGov (@TravelGov) January 13, 2026
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