Donald Trump has told protesters in Iran that “help is on its way” and warned that Tehran will pay a “big price” for a violent crackdown.
He posted on Truth Social: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!
“Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”
His comments followed reports that the Iranian regime will execute the first protester on Wednesday over his alleged involvement in demonstrations 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 amid a brutal crackdown on protesters, according to the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, an independent NGO based in Norway.
Mr Soltani’s family were told of the decision only on Monday and have been refused information about his charges or judicial proceedings, the organisation said.
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Key Points
- Trump tells protesters 'help is on its way'
- Iranian protester 'at risk of execution' just days after arrest
- Two thousand killed in Iran protests, official claims
- Iranian regime is living through its final days, says Germany's Merz
- Trump says Iran's trade partners to face 25 per cent tariffs from the US
Russia breaks with Trump over Iran
15:41 , James ReynoldsThe Kremlin issued a stark warning in defence of its ally Iran on Tuesday, as Donald Trump assured protesters that “help is on its way”.
Russia’s foreign ministry condemned what it called “subversive external interference” in Iran’s internal politics, rallying behind Tehran against US involvement.
“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,” it said in a statement, referring to the US and Israeli strikes last summer.
The foreign ministry said Donald Trump’s threat of strikes was “categorically unacceptable”.
The matter threatens to damage relations with Washington at a crucial time in US-mediated peace talks over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Family of Iranian protester 'due to be executed' are 'despairing' at situation
15:14 , James ReynoldsWe reported earlier that a 26-year-old is due to be executed in Iran tomorrow over his alleged involvement in the protests sweeping the nation, according to rights groups.
Arina Moradi, a member of the Norway-based Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, told the Daily Mail this afternoon that Erfan Soltani’s family were “shocked” and “despairing” at the situation.
“He was detained last Thursday, and there was no information about him for days before authorities called the family and said they had arrested their son and he will be executed on Wednesday - meaning tomorrow,” she said, after speaking with the family.
Mr Soltani, the owner of a clothes shop from Fardis, will only be allowed 10 minutes with his family before he is hanged, the outlet reported.
The Independent has contacted Hengaw for comment.
Analysis - From all-out war with US to the return of an exiled prince: What happens next in Iran?
15:01 , James ReynoldsRegime 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?
Trump tells protesters 'help is on its way'
15:00 , Daniel KeaneDonald Trump has told protesters in Iran that “help is on its way” and warned that Tehran will pay a “big price” for a violent crackdown.
He posted on Truth Social: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!
“Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”
UK summons Iranian ambassador over violent response to protests against the ruling regime
14:48 , Kate DevlinThe Foreign Office has summoned the Iranian ambassador over the regimes violent crackdown on protests.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the Commons that the ambassador had been called in, a move viewed in diplomatic circles as a serious rebuke.
She has previously praised the bravery of those taking to the streets in Iran, saying it takes "real courage".
She said she had spoken to the Iranian foreign minister on Monday "setting out the UK's total abhorrence of the killings, the violence, and the repression that we are seeing".
She added: "Today, as the further reports have come through, the minister for the Middle East (Hamish Falconer) at my instruction has summoned the Iranian ambassador to underline the gravity of this moment, and to call Iran to answer for the horrific reports that we are hearing."
Protests appear to be dying down, analysts say
14:29 , James ReynoldsThe protests sweeping Iran appear to have died down in recent days, according to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War.
The CTP-ISW said in its latest update that it had recorded “significantly less” protest activity across Iran since the peak on 8 January.
Analysts recorded 14 protests across six provinces on 12 January, far fewer than the 156 across 27 - of 31 - provinces last week.
They assessed that the internet shutdown likely explained, “at least partially”, the decrease in recorded protest.
In pictures: People gather outside the Iranian Embassy in London in solidarity with Iran protests
13:31 , James Reynolds What do we know about Erfan Soltani, the 26-year-old that rights groups say faces the death penalty for his role in the protests?
13:26 , James ReynoldsThe 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.
Read the full story:
Iranian protester ‘to be executed tomorrow’ amid brutal crackdown, rights group says
US and partners boost air defence operations at Al Udeid
13:10 , James ReynoldsUS Central Command said today that it and regional partners are boosting cooperation on air defence at the US’s largest base in the Middle East.
CENTCOM said it had opened a new coordination cell with partners at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to “enhance integrated air and missile defence”.
“This is a significant step forward in strengthening regional defence cooperation,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.
“This cell will improve how regional forces coordinate and share air and missile defence responsibilities across the Middle East.”
The cell will also be responsible for sharing information and threat warnings, CENTCOM reported.
The US has been positioning itself for greater involvement in the region since December, when it launched fresh attacks against ISIS in Syria.
Iran has also issued fresh threats against US bases in the region as Donald Trump weighs strikes.
Iranian protester 'at risk of execution' just days after arrest
13:03 , James ReynoldsAn Iranian protester faces the death penalty over his involvement in recent demonstrations, according to a report.
A source close to the family of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani told Oslo-based NGO Iran Human Rights that relatives have been informed he faces the death penalty on Wednesday, 14 January.
Mr Soltani was arrested on 8 January in Fardis, Karaj, according to the report. The source alleged that Mr Soltani did not have a trial and it was unclear what charges he faced.
EU to propose more sanctions on Iran
12:26 , James ReynoldsUrsula von der Leyen said the EU will “swiftly” propose more sanctions on Iran, while condemning the regime’s “excessive” violence against protesters.
The European Commission president said: "The rising number of casualties in Iran is horrifying. I unequivocally condemn the excessive use of force and continued restriction of freedom.”
"Further sanctions on those responsible for the repression will be swiftly proposed."
How many people have been killed in the protests?
12:00 , James ReynoldsVerifiable figures on casualties have been hard to come by in this fast-moving situation, with the internet blackout still in place.
An Iranian official said today that around 2,000 people have been killed.
As a reminder, the regime has been warning civilians against joining in the demonstrations and blaming violence on ‘rioters’ provoked by foreign adversaries during its crackdown.
US-based HRANA’s latest report, for Monday, concluded that at least 646 people have been killed in 16 days of protest, including 505 protestors.
133 military and law enforcement personnel had also been killed, HRANA said, and seven non-protesting civilians. 579 reports of deaths were under review.
The internet blackout was “effectively eliminating independent access to information”, it caveated.
The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights group reported on Monday that at least 648 people have died. It estimated that the toll could be as high as 6,000.
Recap: Harrowing video shows bodies strewn outside Iranian morgue following crackdown
11:30 , James ReynoldsTwo thousand killed in Iran protests, official claims
11:14 , James ReynoldsAn Iranian official has just claimed that around 2,000 people have been killed in the Iran protests.
The anonymous official told Reuters that “terrorists” were to blame for the deaths of civilians and security personnel.
Tehran maintains that fatal clashes between the government and anti-regime protesters have been stoked by foreign adversaries.
Is Donald Trump's brand of gunboat diplomacy working on Iran?
11:07 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump has made waves with his strongman approach to diplomacy in the last two weeks.
The takedown of longtime Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro at the start of the month showed he was serious about using force to achieve his objectives.
Allies subsequently took threats against Greenland at face value. Trump said he’d rather buy the territory than take it.
Now, he is said to be considering action against Iran.
Anonymous US officials have told the media that Trump is (again) weighing strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities among a range of options, including an anti-regime propaganda campaign and a cyber attack of sorts.
He also seems to be open to negotiating. On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said private messages from Tehran showed a willingness to engage in talks.
“I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages,” she said. “However, with that said, the president has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary, and nobody knows that better than Iran.”
Iran has not responded directly but says it remains “open to diplomacy”.
Regime is living through its final days, says Merz
10:30 , James ReynoldsGermany’s Friedrich Merz said today he believes the Iranian regime is living through its “final days and weeks”.
The Chancellor told reporters: “If a regime can only keep itself in power by force, then it's effectively at the end. I believe we are now seeing the final days and weeks of this regime.”
He added that he hopes there will be a way to “end this conflict peacefully”.
Merz is currently on a visit to India.
Watch: US refuses to rule out military actions against Iran
10:00 , James ReynoldsIranians able to make calls out as internet blackout remains
09:45 , James ReynoldsIranians were able to make calls out of Iran for the first time in days on Tuesday as the regime relaxed some of its restrictions.
People in Tehran told the Associated Press that they were able to make calls abroad but not receive them.
SMS text messaging was still down, and internet users could not access anything abroad.
There were local connections to certain government-approved websites, people said.
As a reminder, the regime assured on Monday that it had shut down the protest situation. Trump said that Iran was keen to negotiate after he threatened renewed strikes.
Pahlavi voices support for US intervention
09:30 , James ReynoldsExiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has voiced support for a US intervention in Iran as the regime scales up its crackdown.
Pahlavi told CBS News on Monday: “We need action to be taken.”
“The best way to ensure that there will be less people killed in Iran is to intervene sooner, so this regime finally collapses and puts an end to all the problems that we are facing,” he said.
Oil pushes two month high - but remains historically low
09:22 , Karl MatchettBrent Oil futures are trading more than 1 per cent higher today than yesterday - that's quite a notable jump in oil market terms.
On the one hand, it's a bigger reaction than the markets showed when the Venezuelan leader Maduro was captured. And it also means the price has spiked to a two-month high, since tipping past $65 in mid-November. Right now, it's at $64.65.
But zoom the lens out further and the price is still depressed compared to recent historical norms: above $100 for almost the entire second half of 2022, and still between $70-80 for all of 2024.
There has been a steady climb since mid-December, though, and we're up 5 per cent since then already.
Trump 'weighing strikes on Iran's nuclear programme'
08:56 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump is said to be weighing fresh strikes against Iran’s nuclear programme, according to a report.
US officials told the New York Times that the president is considering a wider range of strike options than previously reported. This could include new strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme and ballistic missile sites.
Any attack is “at least several days away”, the outlet reported, citing an official. They said that the president is also still exploring diplomatic options.
Iran refutes talk of regime collapse - but blackout remains
08:42 , James ReynoldsIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told diplomats in Tehran on Monday that “the situation is now under total control”.
Iran has increasingly sought to downplay unrest while framing opposition as ‘rioting’ spurred on by foreign adversaries. A sweeping internet blackout has limited communication between dissenting Iranians and the outside world.
In a sign that the situation remains fragile, Iran’s top cyberspace authority said, also on Monday, that the restrictions would remain in place until officials say otherwise.
Mohammad Amin Aqamiri said that “the time to return to normal conditions will be announced in the future”, in comments reported in Iranian media.
Alp Toker, founder of internet monitoring group NetBlocks, said the blackout, which began on 8 January, was still in place on Monday.
He said he had heard from some people who were still able to use Elon Musk’s Starlink service to communicate, though reports suggested Iran was working to disrupt it with jammers.
Latest pictures to emerge from Iran
08:17 , Alex CroftHere are some of the latest pictures which have emerged from Iran, where a regime-imposed internet blackout has made communications between Iranians and the outside world very difficult.
Video report: 23-year-old Student shot in back of the head and buried at the roadside
08:04 , Alex CroftUK and US warn citizens in Iran are at 'significant risk of arrest'
07:52 , Alex CroftThe UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised all British citizens against travel to Iran.
It warns that British nationals are at a “very high” risk of arrest and that even just having a British passport or connections to the UK can be enough reason for Iranian authorities to detain you.
Those who are near the protests are at “serious” risk of arrests, it added.
The US Department of State Consular Affairs also highlighted the escalating protests and said US citizens in Iran should consider leaving by land to Armenia or Turkey.
"US nationals are at significant risk of questioning, arrest, and detention in Iran," the department said on its TravelGov account on X.
Trump 'leaning towards military strikes in Iran'
07:39 , Alex CroftDonald Trump is leaning towards military action in Iran as he continues weighing up a response to a deadly crackdown on protests which has killed at least 646, Axios is reporting.
A White House official told the outlet that he had not made a final decision and is considering talks, after contacts were opened between Tehran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff on Monday.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said earlier that communications between himself and US special envoy Steve Witkoff were ongoing, but it is unclear whether any progress has been made.
What have Washington and Tehran said about ongoing contacts?
07:21 , Alex CroftWe heard on Monday that Iran and the US had opened a line of communication, specifically between Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Araghchi said Tehran was studying ideas proposed by Washington, but that these were "incompatible" with US threats to carry out military action in Iran in response to its repression of the protests.
"Communications between Witkoff and me continued before and after the protests and are still ongoing," he told Al Jazeera.
Sources told Axios that Witkoff and Araghchi held talks in an effort by Ira to deescalate with the US - or at least buy time before Trump orders any military action.
Iranians able to make some calls abroad while internet access is still out after protests
07:00 , Namita SinghMobile phones in Iran were able to call abroad on Tuesday after a crackdown on nationwide protests in which the internet and international calls were cut.
Several people in Tehran were able to call the Associated Press. The AP bureau in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was unable to call those numbers back.
Witnesses said the internet remained cut off from the outside world.
Iran cut off the internet and calls on Thursday as protests intensified.
In pictures: People rally around the world in support of protests in Iran
06:45 , Namita Singh China opposes Trump's tariff threat against nations doing business with Iran
06:30 , Namita SinghChina said late on Monday that it opposed "any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction" after US president Donald Trump posted on social media that nations doing business with Iran will face a 25 per cent tariff on US trade.
"China's position against the indiscriminate imposition of tariffs is consistent and clear. Tariff wars and trade wars have no winners, and coercion and pressure cannot solve problems," a spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in Washington said on X.
"China firmly opposes any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, and will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests."
Iran claims fighting a war on four fronts
06:15 , Namita SinghAddressing a large crowd in Tehran's Enqelab Square on Monday, parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Iranians were fighting a war on four fronts – "economic war, psychological warfare, military war against the US and Israel, and today a war against terrorism."
Declaring the situation "under total control", foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said on Monday that 53 mosques and 180 ambulances had been set on fire since the protests erupted.
Despite the massive scale of the protests, there are no signs of splits in the Shi'ite clerical leadership, military or security forces, and demonstrators have no clear central leadership. The opposition is fragmented.
Iran's Ministry of Intelligence said on Monday it had detained "terrorist" teams responsible for acts including killing paramilitary volunteers loyal to the clerical establishment, torching mosques and attacking military sites, according to a statement carried by state media.
Diplomacy is always the first option, says White House
06:00 , Namita SinghWhile airstrikes were one of many alternatives open to Trump, "diplomacy is always the first option for the president," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday.
"What you're hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately, and I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages," she said.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran was studying ideas proposed by Washington, though these were "incompatible" with US threats.
"Communications between (US special envoy Steve) Witkoff and me continued before and after the protests and are still ongoing," he told Al Jazeera.
Which countries are impacted by Trump’s new tariff?
05:45 , Namita SinghDonald Trump late on Monday announced that any country doing business with Iran, a major oil producer, will face a new tariff of 25 per cent on its exports to the US.
"This Order is final and conclusive," Trump said in a social media post, without providing further detail about the legal authority he would use to impose the tariffs, or whether they would be aimed at all of Iran's trading partners.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York declined to comment on Trump's tariff announcement.
Iran, already under heavy US sanctions, exports much of its oil to China, with Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and India among its other top trading partners.
India already faces 50 per cent tariffs from the US, including 25 per cent over its purchases of oil from Russia.
The Chinese embassy in Washington criticised Trump's approach, saying China will take "all necessary measures" to safeguard its interests and opposed "any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction".
Trump has warned Iran's leaders that the United States would attack if security forces open fire on protesters.
A Turkish official cautions against foreign intervention in Iran
05:30 , Namita SinghA senior Turkish official voiced opposition to foreign interventions in Iran, warning that such actions could worsen the country's crisis.
Omer Celik, spokesperson for president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, acknowledged on Monday that Iran faces internal challenges but stressed they must be resolved through "its own dynamics and the will of the state”.
"We would never wish for any chaos to emerge in our neighbor Iran," Celik said, adding that outside interference would only produce "worse outcomes."
He cautioned that regional instability could escalate further if external involvement is driven by what he described as "Israeli provocations”.
Russian official alleges foreign interference
05:15 , Namita SinghThe executive secretary of Russia's Security Council has condemned what he described as foreign interference in Iran's internal affairs.
The council said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that Sergei Shoigu spoke by phone on Monday with his counterpart Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran.
The statement said Shoigu also offered his condolences over the numerous casualties, without elaboration.
Iran has alleged foreign influence in the protests.
European Parliament bans Iranian diplomats from its premises
05:00 , Namita SinghThe president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, announced a ban on Iranian diplomats from its premises on Monday.
"This House will not aid in legitimising this regime that has sustained itself through torture, repression and murder," Metsola wrote on X. She also praised protesters who "continue to stand up for their rights and their liberty”.
It cannot be business as usual.
— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) January 12, 2026
As the brave people of Iran continue to stand up for their rights and their liberty, today I have taken the decision to ban all diplomatic staff and any other representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran from all European Parliament premises.…
A timeline of Iran's growing protest movement
04:45 , Namita Singh28 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 in crackdown. 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.
White House says airstrikes are among options for Iran but diplomacy is first choice
04:30 , Namita SinghWhite House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has told reporters that airstrikes are among the "many, many options" that president Donald Trump is considering but that "diplomacy is always the first option for the president".
Trump on Sunday said Iranian officials have reached out for talks. He has threatened to take military action against the Islamic Republic for its crackdown on the protests.
"What you're hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately, and I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages," Leavitt said.
"However, with that said, the president has shown he's unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary, and nobody knows that better than Iran."The US last year bombed Iranian nuclear sites when it inserted itself into the 12-day war between Israel and Iran.
Iran and the UK trade sharp statements
04:15 , Namita SinghThe top diplomats for Iran and Britain have traded sharp statements after speaking by phone.
UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said she told Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi that Iran must halt the violence aimed at its people.
She wrote on X that the killing and repression of peaceful protesters is "horrific”.
Araghchi responded by saying the UK should stay out of Iran's internal affairs. He also criticised security at the Iranian embassy in London, where a demonstrator on Saturday scaled a wall and replaced the Islamic Republic's flag with the banner flown before the Western-backed shah was overthrown in 1979.
"If the UK cannot uphold its duty to protect diplomatic missions, Iran would be left with no choice but to consider evacuating our personnel," Araghchi said.
Trump says Iran's trade partners to face 25 per cent tariffs from the US
04:00 , Namita SinghPresident Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran's trade partners will face 25 per cent tariffs from the United States as he looks to pressure Tehran over its violent protest crackdown that's left at least 646 dead across the country.
The US president has repeatedly threatened Tehran with US military action, if his administration found the Islamic Republic was using deadly force against anti-government protesters.
It's a redline that Trump says he believes Iran is "starting to cross" and has left him and his national security team weighing "very strong options.
"Trump announced the tariffs in a social media posting, saying they would be "effective immediately."
China, Brazil, Turkey and Russia are among economies that do business with Tehran.
Two arrested at protest outside Iran's embassy in New Zealand
03:40 , Namita SinghIn New Zealand, two people were arrested on Tuesday during a protest outside the Iranian embassy in Wellington, authorities said.
About 20 people protested outside the embassy, while police officers monitored the situation, the police said in a statement. Officers were considering willful damage charges against the pair arrested.
"Police recognise the lawful right to protest, and maintained a presence to ensure the safety of all involved," a statement said.
Radio New Zealand reported that a man climbed onto a fence at the embassy to erect a pre-1979 Iranian flag, before it was removed by someone from inside the embassy.
Meanwhile, foreign ministry officials in Wellington have reminded New Zealanders of advice that they shouldn't travel to Iran and should leave immediately if they are there. The advisory has been in place since November 2024.