That concludes our live coverage for today. Thanks for joining us. We'll be back again tomorrow morning for more updates and analysis as the news unfolds. Goodnight.
U.S. State Department warns its citizens to leave Iran 'now'
The U.S. State Department has released a statement warning all U.S. citizens to leave Iran "now," and tells them to consider departing by land over the border to Turkey or Armenia "if safe to do so," Reuters reports.
The U.S. — most notably its president — has been threatening military action against the country and while reports indicate that advanced military plans have been drawn up, the final decision as to the exact course of action has not been made.
Trump vows 'very strong action' if Iran hangs protesters
President Donald Trump says that the United States would react strongly if authorities in Iran start hanging people in their crackdown on a popular uprising against the government, AFP reports.
"We will take very strong action if they do such a thing," he told CBS News in an interview, when asked about hangings potentially beginning on Wednesday.
"When they start killing thousands of people — and now you're telling me about hanging. We'll see how that's going to work out for them," Trump said.
Turkey, Iran hold diplomatic talks
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Tuesday to discuss recent developments, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source told Reuters.
Iran signals full readiness, warns against attacks
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps air force commander, Ali Hajizadeh, said the military has "repaired the damage" caused by the 12-day war and is now "fully operational."
He added that Iran is at "full defensive capacity" and any attack would be met with "a strong and decisive response."
Gulf states urge U.S. not to strike Iran
Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar urged Washington against a strike on Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported. Gulf officials said the countries cautioned that an attempt to topple Tehran’s regime could destabilize oil markets and harm the U.S. economy.
Israel raises air defense alert, media reports
Israeli Army Radio said Israel has increased the alert level of its air defense systems amid concerns of a possible escalation with Iran, according to multiple media reports.
The reports emerged as Israel’s security cabinet convened at around 8:30 p.m. local time, Haaretz reported.
Trump urges U.S. allies to leave Iran
The Wall Street Journal’s White House correspondent reported that President Donald Trump said U.S. allies should withdraw from Iran when he was asked about their presence there.
EU summons Iran's ambassador to Brussels
The European Union has summoned Iran’s ambassador to Brussels, an EU official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. No further details were provided.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the bloc would "quickly" propose new sanctions against Tehran, citing what she described as "horrifying" toll of victims from the repression of protests in Iran.
Trump declines to clarify his 'help is on its way' comment on Iran protests
U.S. President Donald Trump, asked what he meant by a social media post saying "help is on its way" to protesters in Iran, told reporters that they would have to figure it out, Reuters reports.
"You're going to have to figure that one out. I'm sorry," Trump said in response to a question. Trump is currently in Detroit giving a speech on the economy.
Trump also told reporters that nobody has been able to give him an accurate number for how many protesters have been killed in recent demonstrations.
Witkoff held secret meeting with Pahlavi over the weekend
White House envoy Steve Witkoff held a secret meeting with the exiled former crown prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, over the weekend to discuss the protests raging in Iran, according to a senior U.S. official cited by Axios.
This was the first high-level meeting between the Iranian opposition and the Trump administration since the protests began 15 days ago.
Pahlavi is attempting to position himself to step in as a "transitional" leader if the regime falls.
The White House national security team held a meeting on this morning to discuss options for responding to the protests. However, according to Axios, President Trump did not attend.
Iranian news site and CBS report death toll in Iran is at least 12,000
Iran International, an Iranian news site with ties to the Saudi crown prince and critical of the regime, released a report saying that, according to its sources, "at least 12,000 people have been killed" in Iran since the protests there began on Dec. 28.
Its editorial team specified that this figure is based on corroborated information from sources close to the Supreme National Security Council, the presidency, the Revolutionary Guard, as well as eyewitness accounts and medical data. CBS News reports the same death toll, citing two sources.
Iran threatens death penalty for 'rioters' as concern grows for protester
Iranian authorities will press charges punishable by death against some individuals arrested during recent demonstrations, prosecutors have announced, cited by AFP, as concern grew that one man arrested during the protests already risks imminent execution.
The office of the Tehran prosecutor said in a statement quoted by state television that an unspecified number would be charged with "moharebeh," or "waging war against God," a sharia law term which is a capital offense in Iran and used widely in the past in death penalty cases.
"A number of rioters whose charges are consistent with moharebeh will soon be sent to court," it said.
Human rights organizations estimate that upwards of 10,000 people have been arrested for participated in the protests.
The case of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani has spread across social media following reports from his family that he is facing imminent execution after being tried, convicted and sentenced since his arrest last Thursday.
Iran is the world's most prolific executioner after China, according to rights groups. Last year, it hanged at least 1,500 people, Norway-based Iran Human Rights group (IHR) said.
Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani responds to Trump's threats
The head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, responded to a recent message posted by Donald Trump, in which the U.S. president urged Iranian protesters to "keep protesting" and to "save the names of the killers and abusers."
"We declare the names of the main killers of the people of Iran," Larijani wrote. "1- Trump 2- Netanyahu."
UK levies 'full and further sanctions' against Iran
The UK has announced “full and further sanctions” against Iran amid the worsening situation in the country, swept up in massive protests and a deadly crackdown, The Guardian reports.
The sanctions will target finance, energy, transport, software and other significant industries, Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, told MPs.
She also said that the Foreign Office had summoned the Iranian ambassador over reports of the country’s response to protests against the regime.
The announcement comes following Trump's declaration that the U.S. was implementing a 25 percent tariff on any country doing business with Iran, angering China, Iran’s leading export partner.
New York Times: 3,000 people killed in Iran's protests
A senior Iranian health ministry official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the New York Times that about 3,000 people had been killed across the country during the protests, while shifting the blame to “terrorists” fomenting unrest.
The figure included hundreds of security officers, he said.
The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) reported today that at least 734 protesters have been killed in Iran since the start of the demonstrations against the government, and stated that the actual death toll could be in the thousands.
IHR "continues to receive reports of thousands of deaths in various cities and provinces across Iran," the organization said.
Also today, an anonymous Iranian official told Reuters that the total death toll surpassed 2,000, but did not indicate how many were security forces and how many were the protesters.
Trump's military plans for Iran in 'advanced stages,' but negotiation preferred
Al Jazeera's White House correspondent has learned that Trump's military plans for Iran are in their "advanced stages" but a decision on whether to launch strikes or take some other action has not yet been made.
Trump is currently in a meeting at the White House with members of his national security team, the Al Jazeera report adds. According to the White House's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, the administration's position is still that Iran does want to negotiate, and that this is still what Trump would prefer over military action.
Lindsey Graham says Trump's comment refers to massive wave of military, cyber and psychological attacks
U.S. Senator, Lindsey Graham, published a statement on X saying that a "massive wave of military, cyber and psychological attacks against the Iranian regime is the meat and bones" of Trump's comment earlier today, in which he told the Iranian public that “help is on the way.”
"The tipping point of this long journey will be President Trump’s resolve. No boots on the ground, but unleashing holy hell — as he promised — on the regime that has trampled every red line," Graham wrote.
"The death blow to the ayatollah is going to be a combination of the incredible patriotic bravery of the protestors, and decisive action by President Trump. The protestors go to the streets unarmed, risking their lives because they believe President Trump has their backs," Graham added.
He also called for "destroying the infrastructure that allows the massacre and slaughter of the Iranian people, and take down the leaders responsible for the killing."
Iran's semi-official news agency, Tasnim, has English site shut down by the U.S.
The semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim has said that its English website, under the dot-com domain, has been shut down by U.S. authorities, calling the move “terrorism against awareness,” Al Jazeera reports.
In 2023, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on Tasnim, accusing the agency of being controlled by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and contributing to the “regime’s systematic censorship.”
Washington has previously used sanctions to block websites affiliated with Iran and its allies in the region. The site was also down last night, but came back online a short time later.
Tasnim’s English homepage now displays a message that reads, “There has been a critical error on this website.”
Russia slams US strike threats, warns against interference in Iran
Russia has condemned what it described as "subversive external interference" in Iran's internal politics and said U.S. threats of new military strikes against the country were "categorically unacceptable," Reuters reports.
"Those who plan to use externally inspired unrest as a pretext for repeating the aggression against Iran committed in June 2025 must be aware of the disastrous consequences of such actions for the situation in the Middle East and global international security," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Trump urges Iranians to keep protesting, says 'help' on its way
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Iranians should continue nationwide protests, take over institutions and record names of "killers and abusers," as authorities there cracked down on mass demonstrations, AFP reports.
"Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY."
Portugal summons Iranian ambassador to condemn 'violent repression' of protests
Portugal announced on Tuesday that it had summoned the Iranian ambassador to Lisbon to convey its "strong condemnation" of the "violent repression of protests" in recent days against the Tehran regime.
"Furthermore, within the framework of European consultation, Portugal is prepared to strengthen sanctions against Iran," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on its X account.
Lisbon thus called for "the rights of Iranian citizens to be respected." Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel summoned the Iranian diplomatic representative "to convey to him in person the vehement condemnation, already reiterated in recent days, of the violent repression of the protests."
Iran: Former empress calls on security forces to join protesters
The former empress of Iran, Farah Pahlavi, widow of the shah who was overthrown following the Islamic revolution in 1979, has called on security forces to join the protest movement that has been challenging the government for more than two weeks.
Farah Pahlavi, 87, is echoing the sentiments of her son, former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who has made similar statements in recent days and is actively supporting the protesters from the United States — his name is regularly chanted at rallies.
"Remember that no government's survival, no advantage's preservation, justifies the bloodshed of your compatriots," she wrote, addressing the security forces and asking them to hear the "cries of anger and rage" of the protesters and to "join them before it is too late."
"I know that dark minds have cut off your means of communicating with the world for fear of hearing your voice, but know that your message is too strong to be silenced," the former empress assured in her statement.
Iran: Ursula von der Leyen calls for 'swift' sanctions after 'appalling' death toll
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has promised that new sanctions against Tehran will be "swiftly" proposed to the 27 member states, following the "appalling" death toll from the crackdown on protests in Iran.
"New sanctions targeting those responsible for the crackdown will be proposed quickly," she said on social media platform X.
Trump expected to announce today the formation of a 'Peace Council" for Gaza, according to a pro-Trump Arab-American group
Bishara Bahbah, president of the pro-Trump group Arab Americans for Peace, said Saturday that U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce on Tuesday the creation of a "Peace Council" to oversee a transitional administration for the Gaza Strip.
Bahbah, who is also a mediator in Gaza, added that a Palestinian technocratic committee would be formed during meetings to be held tomorrow or Thursday in Cairo.
He told the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper that several Arab countries would participate in the Peace Council, including Qatar, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
He said the Council also includes the United States, Britain, Germany and Italy.
About 2,000 people killed in protests in Iran, according to Iranian official
About 2,000 people have been killed in protests in Iran, an Iranian official told Reuters, blaming "terrorists" for the deaths of civilians and members of the security forces.
A confrontation between the United States and Iran would be 'catastrophic' for the region, says Qatar
Qatar has said that a confrontation between the United States and Iran would be "catastrophic" for the region, after the U.S. president threatened military intervention in the country, which is currently in the throes of unrest.
"We know that any escalation ... would have catastrophic consequences in the region and beyond, and we therefore want to avoid it as much as possible," said Qatari Foreign Ministry spokeperson Majed al-Ansari during a press conference in Doha.
Hezbollah confirms death of one of its members in Israeli strike on Bint Jbeil on Sunday
Hezbollah has confirmed the death of Mohammad Adel Saghir, one of its members killed on Sunday in an Israeli air strike that targeted a car in Bint Jbeil.
Our correspondent in southern Lebanon reported on Sunday that a drone strike on a vehicle in Bint Jbeil had killed Mohammad Adel Saghir, a Hezbollah member and municipal councilor.
UN human rights chief 'horrified' by 'repression'
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he was "horrified" by the "repression" of protests in Iran, which have left more than 600 people dead since the protests began, according to an NGO.
"The killing of peaceful protesters must stop, and it is unacceptable to label protesters as 'terrorists' to justify violence against them," he said in a statement.
Syrian army tells Kurdish forces to withdraw from area east of Aleppo city
Syria's army told Kurdish forces on Tuesday to withdraw from an area they control east of Aleppo after dislodging fighters from two neighborhoods in the city in deadly clashes last week.
State television published an army statement with a map declaring a large area a "closed military zone" and said "all armed groups in this area must withdraw to east of the Euphrates" River.
The area begins near Deir Hafer, around 50 km east of Aleppo city and extends to the Euphrates further east, as well as towards the south.
Read more here.
US officials urge Trump to try diplomacy before launching strikes against Iran, according to WSJ
Some senior officials in Donald Trump's administration, led by Vice President JD Vance, are urging the U.S. president to try diplomacy before launching strikes against Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing U.S. officials.
According to the newspaper, the White House is considering a proposal from Tehran to engage in talks on its nuclear program, while Trump "appears to be considering authorizing military action against Iran."
However, a v for Vance said that the WSJ's information was inaccurate. "The vice president and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio are presenting the president with a range of options, from a diplomatic approach to military action," said William Martin, spokeperson for Vance, quoted by Reuters.
The United States calls on its citizens in Iran to leave the country
On Monday, the United States called on its citizens in Iran to make "alternative means of communication" available to them, as the country has been experiencing an internet blackout since Jan. 8, and to consider leaving the country.
"U.S. citizens should expect continued internet outages, plan for alternative means of communication, and, if safe to do so, consider leaving Iran by land to Armenia or Turkey," the embassy said in a statement.
It called on people with dual U.S. and Iranian nationality to "leave Iran with their Iranian passport. The Iranian government does not recognize dual citizenship and will treat individuals with dual U.S. and Iranian citizenship as full Iranian citizens."
Finally, it warned that "U.S. nationals are at significant risk of being questioned, arrested and detained in Iran."
Iran cut off the internet due to 'terrorist operations,' according to the Iranian foreign minister
Iran cut off internet communications on Jan. 8 because "terrorist operations" had begun during protests, initially linked to economic demands, the foreign minister said Tuesday on Al Jazeera.
"The government was in dialogue with the protesters. The internet was only cut off when we were confronted with terrorist operations and saw that the orders were coming from abroad," said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Human rights activists have accused Iran of cutting off the internet to cover up the crackdown, which they say has left hundreds or even thousands dead.
German Chancellor says he believes Iran's regime is in its 'final days and weeks'
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he believes that Iran's regime is in its "final days and weeks," at a time when the Iranian authorities are accused of violently suppressing widespread protests.
"When a regime can only maintain power through violence, it is de facto on its last legs. I assume that we are seeing the last days and weeks of this regime," he said during a trip to Bangalore in southern India, according to comments broadcast on German television.
Spain summons Iranian ambassador to 'condemn' the situation
Spain has summoned the Iranian ambassador to Madrid to express its "firm rejection and condemnation" of the crackdown on protests which, according to NGOs, have left hundreds dead in Iran, the foreign minister has announced.
"The right of Iranian men and women to demonstrate peacefully, their freedom of expression, must be respected" and "arbitrary arrests must stop," Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Radio Catalunya.
Telecom connection in Iran to resume
International telephone connections with Iran are resuming, according to an AFP journalist.
Iran and Trump's threats of sanctions: China will 'resolutely safeguard' its interests
China has said it will "resolutely" defend its interests following President Donald Trump's announcement that the U.S. will impose 25 percent tariffs on any country trading with Iran, which is currently embroiled in protests.
"We have always believed that there are no winners in a trade war, and China will resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said during a regular press briefing.
The Iranian people are 'defenseless' and need the international community, says director Jafar Panahi
The crackdown on protests in Iran is targeting a "defenseless" people who need the support of the international community to "put an end" to the current regime, said Iranian director Jafar Panahi, winner of the Palme d'Or at the last Cannes Film Festival.
"The Iranian people are defenseless today, and despite all that, they are in the streets," the filmmaker said on France Inter radio, denouncing the brutality of the crackdown, which has left at least 600 dead, according to a non-governmental organization.
The internet blackout imposed on Jan. 8 in Iran has lasted for over 100 hours
The internet blackout imposed on Jan. 8 in Iran has lasted for over 100 hours, according to the NGO Netblocks.
UN force accuses Israeli forces of firing near peacekeepers in Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) accused Israeli forces of firing near its peacekeepers from an Israeli tank on Monday, and warned that such attacks were becoming "disturbingly common."
UNIFIL has repeatedly reported Israeli fire near or towards its personnel in recent months, and less than two weeks ago said gunfire from an Israeli position hit close to peacekeepers twice.
"UNIFIL peacekeepers observed two Merkava tanks move" from an Israel army position inside Lebanese territory "further into Lebanon" on Monday, the force said in a statement.
Read more here.
The Israeli army fired flares over Aita al-Shaab last night.
After 10 p.m., the Israeli army dropped flares over Aita al-Shaab. It also fired machine guns toward the Khallet Wardeh area, near Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil).
Trump explores diplomatic options with Iran without ruling out the possibility of strikes, according to the NYT
U.S. President Donald Trump is exploring diplomatic options with Iran without ruling out the possibility of strikes, U.S. officials told the New York Times yesterday.
The Pentagon has presented Trump with a "broader range of strike options than previously reported." According to a U.S. official, possible targets include Iran's nuclear program and go beyond the U.S. airstrikes that hit Iran in June, as well as ballistic missile sites.
However, he said that more limited options — a cyberattack or a strike against Iran's internal security apparatus — are more likely. "Any attack is still at least several days away and could result in vigorous retaliation from Iran," he added. Donald Trump is to be briefed on the options on Tuesday.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said air strikes were "one of many, many options on the table," but that "diplomacy is always the first option for the president."
Death toll from crackdown on anti-government protests exceeds 600 in Iran
According to the NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), the death toll from the crackdown on anti-government protests stands at 648 in Iran. Its previous toll was 192. The NGO also reported around 10,000 arrests since the start of the uprising.
But the reality could be much bleaker, fears IHR, citing as yet unconfirmed reports of up to 6,000 deaths.
The authorities have imposed a total shutdown of internet communications since Jan. 8, complicating the gathering of information.
Trump threatens Tehran's partners with sanctions
U.S. President Donald Trump yesterday threatened Iran's trading partners with customs sanctions, at a time when, according to an NGO, the death toll from the crackdown on anti-government protests has exceeded 600.
Donald Trump, who has threatened military intervention on several occasions, announced on Monday that any country trading with Iran would be subject to 25 percent tariffs imposed by the United States.
"This decision is final" and "takes effect immediately," Trump posted on his Truth Social network, a measure likely to affect China in particular, Iran's main trading partner.
Good morning and welcome to our blog
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of events in Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, and the region.
In Iran, anti-government protests persist, with the death toll rising daily and the U.S. mounting pressure for renewed strikes on the impoverished country.
Meanwhile, pro-government protests have also taken hold in the capital Tehran.
In Lebanon and Gaza, Israel continues with its daily cease-fire violations.
That concludes our live coverage for today. Thanks for joining us. We'll be back again tomorrow morning for more updates and analysis as the news unfolds. Goodnight.
U.S. State Department warns its citizens to leave Iran 'now'
The U.S. State Department has released a statement warning all U.S. citizens to leave Iran "now," and tells them to consider departing by land over the border to Turkey or Armenia "if safe to do so," Reuters reports.
The U.S. — most notably its president — has been threatening military action against the country and while reports indicate that advanced military plans have been drawn up, the final decision as to the exact course of action has not been made.
Trump vows 'very strong action' if Iran hangs protesters
President Donald Trump says that the United States would react strongly if authorities in Iran start hanging people in their crackdown on a popular uprising against the government, AFP reports.
"We will take very strong action if they do such a thing," he told CBS News in an interview, when asked about hangings potentially beginning on Wednesday.
"When they start killing thousands of people — and now you're telling me about hanging. We'll see how that's going to work out for them," Trump said.
Turkey, Iran hold diplomatic talks
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Tuesday to discuss recent developments, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source told Reuters.
Iran signals full readiness, warns against attacks
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps air force commander, Ali Hajizadeh, said the military has "repaired the damage" caused by the 12-day war and is now "fully operational."
He added that Iran is at "full defensive capacity" and any attack would be met with "a strong and decisive response."
Gulf states urge U.S. not to strike Iran
Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar urged Washington against a strike on Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported. Gulf officials said the countries cautioned that an attempt to topple Tehran’s regime could destabilize oil markets and harm the U.S. economy.
Israel raises air defense alert, media reports
Israeli Army Radio said Israel has increased the alert level of its air defense systems amid concerns of a possible escalation with Iran, according to multiple media reports.
The reports emerged as Israel’s security cabinet convened at around 8:30 p.m. local time, Haaretz reported.
Trump urges U.S. allies to leave Iran
The Wall Street Journal’s White House correspondent reported that President Donald Trump said U.S. allies should withdraw from Iran when he was asked about their presence there.
EU summons Iran's ambassador to Brussels
The European Union has summoned Iran’s ambassador to Brussels, an EU official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. No further details were provided.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the bloc would "quickly" propose new sanctions against Tehran, citing what she described as "horrifying" toll of victims from the repression of protests in Iran.
Trump declines to clarify his 'help is on its way' comment on Iran protests
U.S. President Donald Trump, asked what he meant by a social media post saying "help is on its way" to protesters in Iran, told reporters that they would have to figure it out, Reuters reports.
"You're going to have to figure that one out. I'm sorry," Trump said in response to a question. Trump is currently in Detroit giving a speech on the economy.
Trump also told reporters that nobody has been able to give him an accurate number for how many protesters have been killed in recent demonstrations.
Witkoff held secret meeting with Pahlavi over the weekend
White House envoy Steve Witkoff held a secret meeting with the exiled former crown prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, over the weekend to discuss the protests raging in Iran, according to a senior U.S. official cited by Axios.
This was the first high-level meeting between the Iranian opposition and the Trump administration since the protests began 15 days ago.
Pahlavi is attempting to position himself to step in as a "transitional" leader if the regime falls.
The White House national security team held a meeting on this morning to discuss options for responding to the protests. However, according to Axios, President Trump did not attend.
Iranian news site and CBS report death toll in Iran is at least 12,000
Iran International, an Iranian news site with ties to the Saudi crown prince and critical of the regime, released a report saying that, according to its sources, "at least 12,000 people have been killed" in Iran since the protests there began on Dec. 28.
Its editorial team specified that this figure is based on corroborated information from sources close to the Supreme National Security Council, the presidency, the Revolutionary Guard, as well as eyewitness accounts and medical data. CBS News reports the same death toll, citing two sources.
Iran threatens death penalty for 'rioters' as concern grows for protester
Iranian authorities will press charges punishable by death against some individuals arrested during recent demonstrations, prosecutors have announced, cited by AFP, as concern grew that one man arrested during the protests already risks imminent execution.
The office of the Tehran prosecutor said in a statement quoted by state television that an unspecified number would be charged with "moharebeh," or "waging war against God," a sharia law term which is a capital offense in Iran and used widely in the past in death penalty cases.
"A number of rioters whose charges are consistent with moharebeh will soon be sent to court," it said.
Human rights organizations estimate that upwards of 10,000 people have been arrested for participated in the protests.
The case of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani has spread across social media following reports from his family that he is facing imminent execution after being tried, convicted and sentenced since his arrest last Thursday.
Iran is the world's most prolific executioner after China, according to rights groups. Last year, it hanged at least 1,500 people, Norway-based Iran Human Rights group (IHR) said.
Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani responds to Trump's threats
The head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, responded to a recent message posted by Donald Trump, in which the U.S. president urged Iranian protesters to "keep protesting" and to "save the names of the killers and abusers."
"We declare the names of the main killers of the people of Iran," Larijani wrote. "1- Trump 2- Netanyahu."
UK levies 'full and further sanctions' against Iran
The UK has announced “full and further sanctions” against Iran amid the worsening situation in the country, swept up in massive protests and a deadly crackdown, The Guardian reports.
The sanctions will target finance, energy, transport, software and other significant industries, Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, told MPs.
She also said that the Foreign Office had summoned the Iranian ambassador over reports of the country’s response to protests against the regime.
The announcement comes following Trump's declaration that the U.S. was implementing a 25 percent tariff on any country doing business with Iran, angering China, Iran’s leading export partner.
New York Times: 3,000 people killed in Iran's protests
A senior Iranian health ministry official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the New York Times that about 3,000 people had been killed across the country during the protests, while shifting the blame to “terrorists” fomenting unrest.
The figure included hundreds of security officers, he said.
The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) reported today that at least 734 protesters have been killed in Iran since the start of the demonstrations against the government, and stated that the actual death toll could be in the thousands.
IHR "continues to receive reports of thousands of deaths in various cities and provinces across Iran," the organization said.
Also today, an anonymous Iranian official told Reuters that the total death toll surpassed 2,000, but did not indicate how many were security forces and how many were the protesters.
Trump's military plans for Iran in 'advanced stages,' but negotiation preferred
Al Jazeera's White House correspondent has learned that Trump's military plans for Iran are in their "advanced stages" but a decision on whether to launch strikes or take some other action has not yet been made.
Trump is currently in a meeting at the White House with members of his national security team, the Al Jazeera report adds. According to the White House's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, the administration's position is still that Iran does want to negotiate, and that this is still what Trump would prefer over military action.
Lindsey Graham says Trump's comment refers to massive wave of military, cyber and psychological attacks
U.S. Senator, Lindsey Graham, published a statement on X saying that a "massive wave of military, cyber and psychological attacks against the Iranian regime is the meat and bones" of Trump's comment earlier today, in which he told the Iranian public that “help is on the way.”
"The tipping point of this long journey will be President Trump’s resolve. No boots on the ground, but unleashing holy hell — as he promised — on the regime that has trampled every red line," Graham wrote.
"The death blow to the ayatollah is going to be a combination of the incredible patriotic bravery of the protestors, and decisive action by President Trump. The protestors go to the streets unarmed, risking their lives because they believe President Trump has their backs," Graham added.
He also called for "destroying the infrastructure that allows the massacre and slaughter of the Iranian people, and take down the leaders responsible for the killing."
Iran's semi-official news agency, Tasnim, has English site shut down by the U.S.
The semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim has said that its English website, under the dot-com domain, has been shut down by U.S. authorities, calling the move “terrorism against awareness,” Al Jazeera reports.
In 2023, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on Tasnim, accusing the agency of being controlled by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and contributing to the “regime’s systematic censorship.”
Washington has previously used sanctions to block websites affiliated with Iran and its allies in the region. The site was also down last night, but came back online a short time later.
Tasnim’s English homepage now displays a message that reads, “There has been a critical error on this website.”
Russia slams US strike threats, warns against interference in Iran
Russia has condemned what it described as "subversive external interference" in Iran's internal politics and said U.S. threats of new military strikes against the country were "categorically unacceptable," Reuters reports.
"Those who plan to use externally inspired unrest as a pretext for repeating the aggression against Iran committed in June 2025 must be aware of the disastrous consequences of such actions for the situation in the Middle East and global international security," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Trump urges Iranians to keep protesting, says 'help' on its way
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Iranians should continue nationwide protests, take over institutions and record names of "killers and abusers," as authorities there cracked down on mass demonstrations, AFP reports.
"Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY."
Portugal summons Iranian ambassador to condemn 'violent repression' of protests
Portugal announced on Tuesday that it had summoned the Iranian ambassador to Lisbon to convey its "strong condemnation" of the "violent repression of protests" in recent days against the Tehran regime.
"Furthermore, within the framework of European consultation, Portugal is prepared to strengthen sanctions against Iran," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on its X account.
Lisbon thus called for "the rights of Iranian citizens to be respected." Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel summoned the Iranian diplomatic representative "to convey to him in person the vehement condemnation, already reiterated in recent days, of the violent repression of the protests."
Iran: Former empress calls on security forces to join protesters
The former empress of Iran, Farah Pahlavi, widow of the shah who was overthrown following the Islamic revolution in 1979, has called on security forces to join the protest movement that has been challenging the government for more than two weeks.
Farah Pahlavi, 87, is echoing the sentiments of her son, former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who has made similar statements in recent days and is actively supporting the protesters from the United States — his name is regularly chanted at rallies.
"Remember that no government's survival, no advantage's preservation, justifies the bloodshed of your compatriots," she wrote, addressing the security forces and asking them to hear the "cries of anger and rage" of the protesters and to "join them before it is too late."
"I know that dark minds have cut off your means of communicating with the world for fear of hearing your voice, but know that your message is too strong to be silenced," the former empress assured in her statement.
Iran: Ursula von der Leyen calls for 'swift' sanctions after 'appalling' death toll
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has promised that new sanctions against Tehran will be "swiftly" proposed to the 27 member states, following the "appalling" death toll from the crackdown on protests in Iran.
"New sanctions targeting those responsible for the crackdown will be proposed quickly," she said on social media platform X.
Trump expected to announce today the formation of a 'Peace Council" for Gaza, according to a pro-Trump Arab-American group
Bishara Bahbah, president of the pro-Trump group Arab Americans for Peace, said Saturday that U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce on Tuesday the creation of a "Peace Council" to oversee a transitional administration for the Gaza Strip.
Bahbah, who is also a mediator in Gaza, added that a Palestinian technocratic committee would be formed during meetings to be held tomorrow or Thursday in Cairo.
He told the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper that several Arab countries would participate in the Peace Council, including Qatar, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
He said the Council also includes the United States, Britain, Germany and Italy.
About 2,000 people killed in protests in Iran, according to Iranian official
About 2,000 people have been killed in protests in Iran, an Iranian official told Reuters, blaming "terrorists" for the deaths of civilians and members of the security forces.
A confrontation between the United States and Iran would be 'catastrophic' for the region, says Qatar
Qatar has said that a confrontation between the United States and Iran would be "catastrophic" for the region, after the U.S. president threatened military intervention in the country, which is currently in the throes of unrest.
"We know that any escalation ... would have catastrophic consequences in the region and beyond, and we therefore want to avoid it as much as possible," said Qatari Foreign Ministry spokeperson Majed al-Ansari during a press conference in Doha.
Hezbollah confirms death of one of its members in Israeli strike on Bint Jbeil on Sunday
Hezbollah has confirmed the death of Mohammad Adel Saghir, one of its members killed on Sunday in an Israeli air strike that targeted a car in Bint Jbeil.
Our correspondent in southern Lebanon reported on Sunday that a drone strike on a vehicle in Bint Jbeil had killed Mohammad Adel Saghir, a Hezbollah member and municipal councilor.
UN human rights chief 'horrified' by 'repression'
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he was "horrified" by the "repression" of protests in Iran, which have left more than 600 people dead since the protests began, according to an NGO.
"The killing of peaceful protesters must stop, and it is unacceptable to label protesters as 'terrorists' to justify violence against them," he said in a statement.
Syrian army tells Kurdish forces to withdraw from area east of Aleppo city
Syria's army told Kurdish forces on Tuesday to withdraw from an area they control east of Aleppo after dislodging fighters from two neighborhoods in the city in deadly clashes last week.
State television published an army statement with a map declaring a large area a "closed military zone" and said "all armed groups in this area must withdraw to east of the Euphrates" River.
The area begins near Deir Hafer, around 50 km east of Aleppo city and extends to the Euphrates further east, as well as towards the south.
Read more here.
US officials urge Trump to try diplomacy before launching strikes against Iran, according to WSJ
Some senior officials in Donald Trump's administration, led by Vice President JD Vance, are urging the U.S. president to try diplomacy before launching strikes against Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing U.S. officials.
According to the newspaper, the White House is considering a proposal from Tehran to engage in talks on its nuclear program, while Trump "appears to be considering authorizing military action against Iran."
However, a v for Vance said that the WSJ's information was inaccurate. "The vice president and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio are presenting the president with a range of options, from a diplomatic approach to military action," said William Martin, spokeperson for Vance, quoted by Reuters.
The United States calls on its citizens in Iran to leave the country
On Monday, the United States called on its citizens in Iran to make "alternative means of communication" available to them, as the country has been experiencing an internet blackout since Jan. 8, and to consider leaving the country.
"U.S. citizens should expect continued internet outages, plan for alternative means of communication, and, if safe to do so, consider leaving Iran by land to Armenia or Turkey," the embassy said in a statement.
It called on people with dual U.S. and Iranian nationality to "leave Iran with their Iranian passport. The Iranian government does not recognize dual citizenship and will treat individuals with dual U.S. and Iranian citizenship as full Iranian citizens."
Finally, it warned that "U.S. nationals are at significant risk of being questioned, arrested and detained in Iran."
Iran cut off the internet due to 'terrorist operations,' according to the Iranian foreign minister
Iran cut off internet communications on Jan. 8 because "terrorist operations" had begun during protests, initially linked to economic demands, the foreign minister said Tuesday on Al Jazeera.
"The government was in dialogue with the protesters. The internet was only cut off when we were confronted with terrorist operations and saw that the orders were coming from abroad," said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Human rights activists have accused Iran of cutting off the internet to cover up the crackdown, which they say has left hundreds or even thousands dead.
German Chancellor says he believes Iran's regime is in its 'final days and weeks'
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he believes that Iran's regime is in its "final days and weeks," at a time when the Iranian authorities are accused of violently suppressing widespread protests.
"When a regime can only maintain power through violence, it is de facto on its last legs. I assume that we are seeing the last days and weeks of this regime," he said during a trip to Bangalore in southern India, according to comments broadcast on German television.
Spain summons Iranian ambassador to 'condemn' the situation
Spain has summoned the Iranian ambassador to Madrid to express its "firm rejection and condemnation" of the crackdown on protests which, according to NGOs, have left hundreds dead in Iran, the foreign minister has announced.
"The right of Iranian men and women to demonstrate peacefully, their freedom of expression, must be respected" and "arbitrary arrests must stop," Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Radio Catalunya.
Telecom connection in Iran to resume
International telephone connections with Iran are resuming, according to an AFP journalist.
Iran and Trump's threats of sanctions: China will 'resolutely safeguard' its interests
China has said it will "resolutely" defend its interests following President Donald Trump's announcement that the U.S. will impose 25 percent tariffs on any country trading with Iran, which is currently embroiled in protests.
"We have always believed that there are no winners in a trade war, and China will resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said during a regular press briefing.
The Iranian people are 'defenseless' and need the international community, says director Jafar Panahi
The crackdown on protests in Iran is targeting a "defenseless" people who need the support of the international community to "put an end" to the current regime, said Iranian director Jafar Panahi, winner of the Palme d'Or at the last Cannes Film Festival.
"The Iranian people are defenseless today, and despite all that, they are in the streets," the filmmaker said on France Inter radio, denouncing the brutality of the crackdown, which has left at least 600 dead, according to a non-governmental organization.
The internet blackout imposed on Jan. 8 in Iran has lasted for over 100 hours
The internet blackout imposed on Jan. 8 in Iran has lasted for over 100 hours, according to the NGO Netblocks.
UN force accuses Israeli forces of firing near peacekeepers in Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) accused Israeli forces of firing near its peacekeepers from an Israeli tank on Monday, and warned that such attacks were becoming "disturbingly common."
UNIFIL has repeatedly reported Israeli fire near or towards its personnel in recent months, and less than two weeks ago said gunfire from an Israeli position hit close to peacekeepers twice.
"UNIFIL peacekeepers observed two Merkava tanks move" from an Israel army position inside Lebanese territory "further into Lebanon" on Monday, the force said in a statement.
Read more here.
The Israeli army fired flares over Aita al-Shaab last night.
After 10 p.m., the Israeli army dropped flares over Aita al-Shaab. It also fired machine guns toward the Khallet Wardeh area, near Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil).
Trump explores diplomatic options with Iran without ruling out the possibility of strikes, according to the NYT
U.S. President Donald Trump is exploring diplomatic options with Iran without ruling out the possibility of strikes, U.S. officials told the New York Times yesterday.
The Pentagon has presented Trump with a "broader range of strike options than previously reported." According to a U.S. official, possible targets include Iran's nuclear program and go beyond the U.S. airstrikes that hit Iran in June, as well as ballistic missile sites.
However, he said that more limited options — a cyberattack or a strike against Iran's internal security apparatus — are more likely. "Any attack is still at least several days away and could result in vigorous retaliation from Iran," he added. Donald Trump is to be briefed on the options on Tuesday.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said air strikes were "one of many, many options on the table," but that "diplomacy is always the first option for the president."
Death toll from crackdown on anti-government protests exceeds 600 in Iran
According to the NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), the death toll from the crackdown on anti-government protests stands at 648 in Iran. Its previous toll was 192. The NGO also reported around 10,000 arrests since the start of the uprising.
But the reality could be much bleaker, fears IHR, citing as yet unconfirmed reports of up to 6,000 deaths.
The authorities have imposed a total shutdown of internet communications since Jan. 8, complicating the gathering of information.
Trump threatens Tehran's partners with sanctions
U.S. President Donald Trump yesterday threatened Iran's trading partners with customs sanctions, at a time when, according to an NGO, the death toll from the crackdown on anti-government protests has exceeded 600.
Donald Trump, who has threatened military intervention on several occasions, announced on Monday that any country trading with Iran would be subject to 25 percent tariffs imposed by the United States.
"This decision is final" and "takes effect immediately," Trump posted on his Truth Social network, a measure likely to affect China in particular, Iran's main trading partner.
Good morning and welcome to our blog
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of events in Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, and the region.
In Iran, anti-government protests persist, with the death toll rising daily and the U.S. mounting pressure for renewed strikes on the impoverished country.
Meanwhile, pro-government protests have also taken hold in the capital Tehran.
In Lebanon and Gaza, Israel continues with its daily cease-fire violations.
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