Iran’s near-total internet blackout continued on Saturday as the country’s supreme leader warned of a harsher crackdown on a growing wave of protests.
In his first public address since demonstrations began on 28 December, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Islamic Republic would “not back down”, accusing protesters of acting on behalf of foreign powers and blaming US president Donald Trump for unrest driven by Iran’s economic crisis.
Trump warned Khamenei that the US will “start shooting” if demonstrators in Iran are targeted by government forces as nationwide protests demanding regime change continued into their 13th day.
At least 62 people have been killed since the protests began, according to the Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), which said the dead included 48 protesters and 14 security personnel.
Protesters have chanted “death to Khamenei” in cities across the country, including after calls by the son of the toppled former leader Shah Reza Pahlavi for Iranians to take to the streets. Authorities have maintained a nationwide internet shutdown, severely restricting information flowing out of the country.
Khamenei said demonstrators were “ruining their own streets” to please foreign leaders.
Key Points
- Why Iran’s protests are escalating amid nuclear tensions with US
- Iran authorities cut internet as buildings set on fire during mass protests in Tehran
- In pictures: Millions gather in Tehran to demand regime change
- Watch: Crowds take to streets across Iran after call to defy regime
- Ayatollah Khamenei says Islamic Republic will not 'back down' amid protests
- Trump says Khamenei planning to flee Iran as he puts Iran 'on notice'
- Britain, France and Germany condemn killings of protestors
This Iranian uprising could be as pivotal as the French Revolution
06:30 , Shahana YasminIran’s Islamic regime looks to be tottering. In recent weeks, hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets to express their anger at worsening economic conditions, sparked by international sanctions that have seen their currency collapse and the cost of basic goods shoot up.
At least 38 protesters demanding regime change have been killed so far in violent clashes with police, and 2,200 arrested. Faced with what is fast becoming one of the biggest challenges ever to Iran and its clerical leadership, the ayatollahs – in a rare moment of weakness – pulled the plug on the internet, as government buildings in Tehran were set on fire.
Of course, the Islamic Republic has survived protest waves in the past. In 2009, allegations of election fraud sparked massive street protests and a hugely brutal response by Ayatollah Khamenei’s security forces. In 2022, more than 500 people were reportedly killed in protests after the death in police custody of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for refusing to wear the obligatory headscarf.
But this time, it feels different, writes Mark Almond
This Iranian uprising could be as pivotal as the French Revolution
Marco Rubio voices support for Iran protesters
06:15 , Shahana YasminUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed support for protesters in Iran, amid a wave of nationwide protests over worsening economic conditions.
“The United States supports the brave people of Iran,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The United States supports the brave people of Iran
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 10, 2026
Protests that began on 28 December have spread across multiple cities, with demonstrators chanting slogans against the clerical leadership and calling for political change.
Authorities have responded with force in some areas and imposed a nationwide internet and telephone blackout, limiting communication and independent reporting on events inside the country.
Regime change in Iran would be welcome
06:00 , Shahana YasminIran’s unremittingly harsh leadership faces one of the most serious challenges to its theocratic rule since the Islamic Republic was established in 1979. After weeks of nationwide protests, the ayatollahs’ spell could soon be broken – which is how counter-revolutions begin, and governments fall
Regime change in Iran would be welcome
Rights groups say Iran’s internet blackout hides abuses
05:50 , Shahana YasminSeveral rights and press freedom organisations have condemned Iran’s ongoing nationwide internet blackout amid protests, saying it violates fundamental rights and hinders independent reporting.
Rebecca White, a researcher at Amnesty’s Security Lab, said: “The Iranian authorities have once again deliberately blocked internet access inside Iran to hide the true extent of the grave human rights violations and crimes under international law they are carrying out..This blanket internet shutdown not only hides human rights violations but amounts to a serious human rights violation in itself.”
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) expressed “deep concern” for Iranian journalists, citing the nationwide blackout, threats against reporters and recent arrests.
“This increasingly intimidating climate cannot be tolerated,” Jonathan Dagher, head of RSF’s Middle East desk said, calling for the immediate restoration of telecommunications and the release of 24 detained journalists.
What you need to know about the protests in Iran
05:00 , Shahana YasminBuildings, buses, and shops have been burned to the ground turning Iran’s capital Tehran into a “war zone” as protests break out across the country demanding the fall of the country’s supreme leader ayatollah Ali Khameini.
This unrest follows a tumultuous period for Tehran, which is still recovering from a 12-day conflict in June, initiated by Israel, that saw US forces bomb Iranian nuclear facilities.
Here’s what to know about the protests and the challenges facing Iran’s government.
What is happening in Iran? Internet blackout and Israel blamed after mass protests
X appears to switch Iran flag emoji to pre-revolution design
04:45 , Shahana YasminX appears to have changed Iran’s flag emoji to a pre-revolution version, replacing the current Islamic Republic emblem with the former lion-and-sun symbol.
The change follows a post by X’s head of product Nikita Bier, who said on Thursday he was working on the update after a user request. By Friday evening, the change appeared to be live, with some official Iranian government accounts, including the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, displaying the old flag as a result.
Give me a few hours
— Nikita Bier (@nikitabier) January 9, 2026
The pre-1979 flag features green, white, and red horizontal stripes with a lion-and-sun emblem, popular among sections of the Iranian diaspora opposed to clerical rule.
After the 1979 revolution, Iran replaced the symbol with a new coat of arms and added the words “Allahu Akbar” inscription to the flag.
Who is Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?
04:30 , Shahana YasminAyatollah Ali Khamenei has been Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, making him the most powerful figure in the Islamic Republic. He succeeded Ruhollah Khomeini amid doubts about his religious standing and authority.
Over more than three decades, he has reshaped the Islamic Republic by shifting power away from elected institutions and towards unelected bodies controlled by loyal clerics, effectively placing key decision-making authority in the office of the Supreme Leader.
He oversaw the rise of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps into the dominant force in Iran’s security, politics and economy, granting it broad autonomy in exchange for loyalty.
Khamenei has repeatedly relied on the Guard and other security agencies to suppress challenges to his rule, including major protest movements in 2009, 2017, 2019 and 2022.
Trump saying US watching "pretty incredible" Iran protests "very closely"
04:15 , Shahana Yasmin'Protests may calm down, but won't be extinguished'
04:00 , James ReynoldsCommenting on the situation in Iran, Professor Maziyar Ghiabi, Director of the Centre for Persian and Iranian Studies at the University of Exeter, said:
“The protestors are maintaining their momentum in what is the largest nationwide event of the past decade. Iranian state officials have been uncompromising.
“It is likely the protests will calm down. But given the social and economic conditions, and the buildup of anger, it is hard to think that state force and repression would extinguish them.”
A timeline of how the protests in Iran unfolded and grew
03:45 , Shahana YasminDemonstrations broke out in Iran on 28 December and have spread nationwide as protesters vent their increasing discontent over the Islamic Republic's faltering economy and the collapse of its currency.
While the initial focus had been on issues like spikes in the prices of food staples and the country's staggering annual inflation rate, protesters have now begun chanting anti-government statements as well.
A timeline of how the protests in Iran unfolded and grew
Internet blackout continues as unrest spreads across Iran
03:30 , Shahana YasminIran’s near-total internet blackout continued as protests spread across cities, sharply limiting the flow of information out of the country.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks said internet connectivity remained cut across multiple service providers nationwide.
⚠️ Update: It has now been 24 hours since #Iran implemented a nationwide internet shutdown, with connectivity flatlining at 1% of ordinary levels. The ongoing digital blackout violates the fundamental rights and liberties of Iranians while masking regime violence ⏱ pic.twitter.com/wTIQTZou2x
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) January 9, 2026
Iran’s Ministry of Information and Communications Technology said the shutdown was ordered “by the competent security authorities under the prevailing circumstances of the country”.
The blackout has also disrupted travel links. At least 17 flights between Dubai and Iran were cancelled, according to Dubai Airport’s website.
Iran’s Supreme Leader threatens crackdown as protests escalate
03:15 , Shahana YasminAyatollah Ali Khamenei has threatened that Iranian authorities will not back down in the face of a rapidly growing protest movement.
In his first public remarks since protests began on 28 December, Khamenei described demonstrators as “vandals” and “saboteurs”, accusing them of acting on behalf of foreign powers.
“The Islamic Republic came to power through the blood of hundreds of thousands of honourable people. It will not back down in the face of vandals,” he said
He claimed that protesters were “ruining their own streets” to please foreign leaders, including former US president Donald Trump, who has threatened American intervention if protesters are killed.
Pictured: Demonstrators march on Tehran
03:00 , James Reynolds Recap: Trump says Ayatollah looking to flee Iran amid unrest
02:00 , James ReynoldsThe Iranian regime is under increasing pressure as nationwide protests gain momentum.
At least 40 protesters and several police officers have been killed in clashes, according to rights groups and local media, with 2,200 arrests and counting.
The government switched off the internet to most of the country as opposition groups tried to rally action against the regime.
Maira Butt has the full story:
Trump says Ayatollah will flee Iran as US warns it will ‘hit hard’ if people killed
Germany's Merz condemns killing of protestors
01:02 , James ReynoldsGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed concern about the reports of violence by Iranian security forces on Friday.
Writing on X, he strongly condemned the killing of protestors and shared the joint stance of Germany, France and Britain in urging the Iranian authorities to refrain from violence.
Watch: Trump saying US watching pretty incredible Iran protests very closely
00:30 , James ReynoldsRecap: Risk of foreign intervention 'very low' says Iran's foreign minister
Friday 9 January 2026 23:53 , James ReynoldsIran’s foreign minister said earlier on Friday that the risk of foreign intervention is “very low” as US President Donald Trump warned it would hit Iran “hard” if it attacked protesters amid political unrest across the country.
Trump added that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be fleeing the country with reports that he could escape to Russia, sparking speculation that the US could intervene.
How many people have been killed amid the unrest?
Friday 9 January 2026 23:01 , James ReynoldsIranian rights group HRANA said on Friday it had documented the deaths of at least 62 people.
That figure included 14 security personnel and 48 protesters, since demonstrations began on December 28.
Iranian media reported that a number of children were among the casualties.
Iran pins violence on US and Israel
Friday 9 January 2026 22:30 , James ReynoldsIran’s UN ambassador told the security council on Friday that the US was to blame for the “transformation of peaceful protests into violent, subversive acts and widespread vandalism”.
Amir Saeid Iravani wrote in a letter that Iran condemns “the ongoing, unlawful, and irresponsible conduct of the United States of America, in coordination with the Israeli regime, in interfering in Iran’s internal affairs through threats, incitement, and the deliberate encouragement of instability and violence.”
ICYMI: Punishment for rioters will be 'decisive, maximal' and 'without legal leniency', says head of judiciary in Iran
Friday 9 January 2026 22:04 , James ReynoldsIran’s judiciary promised severe punishment for protesters as demonstrations entered their 14th day.
Judiciary head Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei was quoted by state media in saying that the punishment of rioters would be “decisive, maximal, and without legal leniency”.
Iranian state media cited the Tehran prosecutor in saying those committing sabotage, burning public property or involved in armed clashes with security forces would face the death penalty.
US ready to 'hit Iran where it hurts', says Trump
Friday 9 January 2026 21:51 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump on Friday threatened to “hit Iran where it hurts” as he doubled down on threats against the regime over its handling of the ongoing protests.
“We’re watching the situation very carefully,” he told reporters at the White House. “I've made the statement very strongly that if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved.”
Dozens of people have already been killed in clashes over the last two weeks.
“That doesn't mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts,” Trump added, noting: “We don't want that to happen.”
“They've done a bad job,” he said of the regime. “They've treated their people very badly, and now they're being paid back. So let's see what happens. We're watching it. We're watching it very closely.”
Pahlavi not trying to restore the monarchy, says supporter
Friday 9 January 2026 21:01 , James ReynoldsA supporter of Reza Pahlavi who has worked on his return to Iran insists that the exiled crown prince is not looking to restore the monarchy with his support for the ongoing protests.
Cameron Khansarinia, vice president of the US-based National Union for Democracy in Iran, told the BBC’s Newshour that Pahlavi backs free elections to let the people "decide whether they want to return to constitutional monarchy or they want a republic".
Watch: Protests gain momentum across Iran after two weeks of pressure
Friday 9 January 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsBritain, France and Germany condemn killings of protestors
Friday 9 January 2026 19:44 , James ReynoldsFrench, British and German leaders have condemned the killing of protesters in Iran.
A joint statement urged the authorities to refrain from violence and allow free expression.
“We urge the Iranian authorities to exercise restraint, to refrain from violence, and to uphold the fundamental rights of Iran’s citizens,” they said.
Background: US and Israel weighing fresh strikes on Iran
Friday 9 January 2026 19:03 , James ReynoldsIran faces renewed pressure to maintain order after US president Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu weighed fresh strikes at the end of December.
The US and Israel carried out airstrikes on Iran’s military and its nuclear installations in June. The US concluded early on that it had likely only set back efforts by a matter of months.
Trump said following the 29 December meeting with Netanyahu that he wanted to “eradicate” Iran’s nuclear programme.
Netanyahu then said on Monday: “We will not allow Iran to restore its ballistic missile industry, and certainly we will not allow it renew the nuclear programme that we significantly damaged.”
He called the recent protests “a decisive moment, in which the Iranian people take their futures into their hands”.
Recap: Trump says Ayatollah looking to flee Iran amid unrest
Friday 9 January 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsIf you’re just tuning in, the Iranian regime is under increasing pressure as nationwide protests gain momentum.
At least 40 protesters and several police officers have been killed in clashes, according to rights groups and local media, with 2,200 arrests and counting.
The government switched off the internet to most of the country as opposition groups tried to rally action against the regime.
Maira Butt has the full story:
Trump says Ayatollah will flee Iran as US warns it will ‘hit hard’ if people killed
Recap: Trump yet to endorse Pahlavi
Friday 9 January 2026 16:52 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump has been slow to endorse exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, despite supporting the protestors against the regime.
In comments to podcaster Hugh Hewitt, Trump indicated he would not be meeting with Pahlavi in the foreseeable future.
“I’ve watched him, and he seems like a nice person, but I’m not sure that it would be appropriate at this point to do that,” he said.
“I think that we should let everybody go out there and we see who emerges,” he added.
Iran's blackout passes 24 hour mark
Friday 9 January 2026 16:48 , James ReynoldsIt has now been 24 hours since Iran implemented its nationwide internet shutdown, according to tracking agency Netblocks.
Reza Pahlavi calls for Trump's support against Iranian regime
Friday 9 January 2026 16:32 , James ReynoldsIran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has called for the “support and action” of Donald Trump against the regime, after the US president threatened Iran with “hell” if demonstrators are killed.
“You have proven and I know you are a man of peace and a man of your word,” Pahlavi wrote in a post on social media on Friday afternoon, adding: “Please be prepared to intervene to help the people of Iran.”
Pahlavi said it was Trump’s “threat to this criminal regime” that has “kept the regime’s thugs at bay” so far. He claimed the Ayatollah “wants to use this blackout to murder these young heroes”.
Iran warns US against intervention
Friday 9 January 2026 15:59 , James ReynoldsIran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said today that the US and Israel were “directly intervening” in the major protests sweeping the nation, without providing evidence.
Araghchi claimed that they “have plans and want to interfere, and they are trying to take these protests and uprisings to the moment of violence”.
He also assessed the chance of foreign military intervention in Iran was "very low".
He said the foreign minister of Oman, which has often interceded in negotiations between Iran and the West, would visit on Saturday.
The comments came Araghchi said yesterday that Iran does “not seek war, but we are fully prepared for it”, offering openness to negotiations with the US.
Donald Trump last week said he would come to the aid of demonstrators if Iran kills protestors.
Is Iran facing another revolution? Expert says regime 'ossified' and unable to remedy concerns of protestors as demos gain momentum
Friday 9 January 2026 15:29 , James ReynoldsHolly Dagres, senior fellow at The Washington Institute, and curator of The Iranist newsletter, tells The Independent’s Chief International Correspondent Bel Trew:
“The Islamic Republic has been in a state of paralysis since October 7, exacerbated by the 12-day war. The clerical establishment is ossified in its ways and unable to seriously address the systemic problems Iranians have been protesting for years.
“Recognising that reform is dead and conditions on the ground are worsening, Iranians have increasingly taken to the streets to demand the ouster of the Islamic Republic. We haven’t seen protests light up all thirty-one provinces with the exception of 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom but the numbers from Thursday appear to be the largest protests we’ve witnessed in Iran.
“[Exiled prince, Reza] Pahlavi certainly has some support—just listen to the chants. This didn’t come out of nowhere; there’s been nostalgia for pre-1979 Iran for a long time, and Pahlavi has an institutional legacy.”
What do we know about the internet blackout in Iran?
Friday 9 January 2026 15:04 , James ReynoldsIran was largely cut off from the outside world on Friday after authorities blacked out the internet to curb growing unrest.
Verified video already shared widely online has shown protests spreading to the majority of Iran’s provinces as the demonstrations gain momentum and threaten the regime.
There was also footage of past protests in other countries being falsely presented as Iran last night.
Protests have been spurred on by opposition factions online, including exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who wrote on social media on Friday: "The eyes of the world are upon you. Take to the streets."
The internet blackout has sharply reduced the amount of information flowing out of the country. Phone calls into Iran were not getting through.
The Times has reported that activists have used Elon Musk’s Starlink devices to post content online. It also said that some influencers have had their Instagram posts taken down “due to criminal activity”.
Punishment for rioters will be 'decisive, maximal' and 'without legal leniency', says head of judiciary in Iran
Friday 9 January 2026 14:45 , Maira ButtIran’s judiciary has promised severe punishment for protesters as demonstrations entered their 14th day.
Judiciary head Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei was quoted by state media saying that the punishment of rioters would be “decisive, maximal, and without legal leniency”.
It comes as the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused demonstrators of being “terrorist agents” working for the US and Israel.
Several police officers killed in clashes
Friday 9 January 2026 14:31 , Maira ButtSeveral people officers have been killed overnight as protests in Iran have become deadly clashes, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
At least 38 demonstrators are reported to have died and at least 2,200 people arrested as they demand that the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei steps down.
Iranian state TV shows burning buildings and vehicles.
EU's Kallas says violence against protesters 'unacceptable'
Friday 9 January 2026 14:27 , Maira ButtThe European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy warned on Friday that violent crackdowns on Iran’s protesters are “unacceptable”.
“The Iranian people are fighting for their future. By ignoring their rightful demands, the regime shows its true colours,” Kaja Kallas wrote in a post on X/Twitter.
“Images from Tehran reveal a disproportionate and heavy-handed response by the security forces. Any violence against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable.
“Shutting down the internet while violently suppressing protests exposes a regime afraid of its own people.”
UK, France and Germany agree that 'close coordination' is required
Friday 9 January 2026 14:25 , Millie CookeThe leaders of the UK, France and Germany have agreed that "close coordination" is required in the coming weeks as events evolve in Iran.
After Sir Keir Starmer spoke with German chancellor Friedrich Merz and French president Emmanuel Macron on the phone on Friday morning, a Downing Street spokesperson said the leaders "agreed on the need for close coordination as events evolved".
The spokesperson also said Sir Keir "reiterated his support for those who exercised their right to peaceful protest".
Risk of foreign intervention 'very low' says Iran's foreign minister
Friday 9 January 2026 14:05 , Maira ButtIran’s foreign minister has said that the risk of foreign intervention is “very low” as US President Donald Trump warned it would hit Iran “hard” if it attacked protesters amid political unrest across the country.
Trump added that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be fleeing the country with reports that he could escape to Russia, sparking speculation that the US could intervene.
Iranian state TV shows burning vehicles amid protests
Friday 9 January 2026 13:45 , Maira Butt Full story: What is happening in Iran? Internet blackout and Israel blamed after widespread anti-regime protests
Friday 9 January 2026 13:25 , Maira ButtBuildings, buses and shops have been burned to the ground turning Iran’s capital Tehran into a “war zone” as protests break out across the country demanding the fall of the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini.
At least 38 people have been killed in violent clashes with police and 2,200 arrested, according to human rights groups.
This unrest follows a tumultuous period for Tehran, which is still recovering from a 12-day conflict in June, initiated by Israel, that saw US forces bomb Iranian nuclear facilities.
“This looks like a war zone – all the shops have been destroyed,” said an Iranian journalist in front of the fires on Shariati Street in the Caspian Sea port of Rasht.
Here’s what to know about the protests and the challenges facing Iran’s government.
What is happening in Iran? Internet blackout and Israel blamed after mass protests
Watch: Crowds take to streets across Iran after call to defy regime
Friday 9 January 2026 13:05 , Maira ButtIn pictures: Nationwide blackout as protestors take to the streets of Tehran
Friday 9 January 2026 12:45 , Maira Butt Trump says he has 'put Iran on notice' and warns US will 'hit them very hard'
Friday 9 January 2026 12:23 , Maira ButtUS President Donald Trump said he had put Iran “on notice” following widespread protests across the country.
“There’s so many people protesting. Nobody’s ever seen anything like what’s happening right now, but I have put Iran on notice that if they start shooting at them — these people are totally unarmed people, and they love their country,” Trump told Sean Hannity on Fox News on Thursday.
“They want something to happen. Look at their country. They’ve gone back 150 years.
“But I’ve warned them that if they do anything bad to these people, we’re going to hit them very hard.I’ve said it very loud and very clear, that’s what we’re going to do.”
Khamenei planning to flee Iran, says Trump
Friday 9 January 2026 12:16 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has suggested that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is planning on fleeing the country amidst unrest.
He said Khamenei is “looking to go someplace” when asked about reports he could escape to Russia and said that the country was on the “verge of collapsing” on Thursday.
Protestors have chanted “death to Khamenei” after the son of the toppled former leader Shah Reza Pahlavi, called for citizens to take to the streets.
Iranian officials told the New York Times that the government had been “thrust into survival mode”. Last week reports emerged that Khamenei could flee to Russia.
Ayatollah blames Trump and Israel for protests
Friday 9 January 2026 12:08 , Maira ButtIranian authorities have blamed “terrorist agents” from the US and Israel for the unrest. The Ayatollah called protesters “saboteurs” and said they were “ruining their own streets on make the President of another country happy”.
US president Donald Trump warned that if Tehran "violently kills peaceful protesters" the US "will come to their rescue,” threats that acquired fresh resonance following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a long-standing ally of Tehran, by American troops.
“We’re watching it very closely,” Mr Trump said on Sunday. “If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States.”
The country has been reeling from a 12-day conflict in June, initiated by Israel, which saw US forces bomb Iranian nuclear facilities. A widening economic crisis has seen the population struggling with an annual inflation rate of 40 per cent.
Iran's flailing economy amid sanctions
Friday 9 January 2026 11:45 , Maira ButtIran's theocratic government is facing intensified pressure as nationwide protests erupt, fuelled by the Islamic Republic’s struggling economy.
Economic hardship has deepened significantly since September, when the United Nations reimposed sanctions on the country due to its atomic programme.
This has plunged Iran’s rial currency into freefall, now exchanging at more than 1.4m to $1. Concurrently, Tehran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” – a coalition of countries and militant groups backed by the capital – has been significantly weakened since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2023.
President of European Parliament hits out at EU's Iran Mission
Friday 9 January 2026 11:20 , Maira ButtThe president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, has hit out at the EU’s Iran Mission amid ongoing protests in the country.
On Thursday, the Iran Mission wrote that it rejected the “interventionist statements” made by the EU President.
It wrote: “Their hypocrisy and double-standard approach towards rights and principles is disgusting.”
Metsola responded on X/Twitter on Friday, writing: “Must be nice to be able to tweet from Europe and be able to use the Internet freely to publicly disagree with leaders, without being arrested, beaten or having the country’s telecommunications disabled.
“That's the sort of thing people in Iran's streets are asking for...”
Flights between Dubai and Iran cancelled
Friday 9 January 2026 11:05 , Maira ButtSeveral flights between Dubai and Iranian cities, Tehran, Shiraz and Mashhad, have been cancelled amid political arrest across the country.
A flydubai spokesperson said that flights to Iran had been cancelled and that the airline "will continue to monitor the situation" and revise its flight schedule accordingly in a statement on Friday.
It did not give a reason for the disruption. Two flights between Doha, Qatar and Tehran scheduled for Friday had been cancelled. Turkish media reported Turkish Airlines cancelled 17 flights. Pegasus Airlines also cancelled flights to Iranian cities on Friday.
Tehran looks like 'war zone', say local media
Friday 9 January 2026 10:39 , Maira ButtScenes in Iran resemble a “war zone” in the aftermath of widespread protests in Tehran, according to local media.
“This looks like a war zone – all the shops have been destroyed,” said a star journalist in front of the fires on Shariati Street in the Caspian Sea port of Rasht.
Images emerging from the country show burning buses, cars and motorbikes as well as fires at metro stations and banks.
Ayatollah Khamenei gives first public address amid protests
Friday 9 January 2026 10:24 , Maira ButtIran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called President Donald Trump “arrogant”, saying he would be “overthrown” in his first public address since protests erupted across Iran.
He said protesters are “ruining their own streets on make the President of another country happy”.
Khamenei insisted the Islamic Republic would not “back down”.
“The Islamic Republic will not tolerate mercenaries working for foreign powers,” he continued.
“To President Trump: focus on the problems in your own country.”
He added: “Everyone should know that the Islamic Republic came to power with the blood of hundreds of thousands of honorable people, and it will not back down in the face of saboteurs.”
How widespread are the protests?
Friday 9 January 2026 09:59 , Maira ButtMore than 340 protests have taken place across all of Iran's 31 provinces, according to a report by the US.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency on Thursday.
At least 38 people have been killed with more than 2,200 arrested, according to the agency, which relies on an activist network inside of Iran for its reporting.
Understanding the scale of the protests has been difficult. Iranian state media has provided little information about the demonstrations.
Online videos offer shaky glimpses of people in the streets or the sound of gunfire. Journalists in general in Iran also face limits on reporting such as requiring permission to travel around the country, as well as the threat of harassment or arrest by authorities.
But the protests do not appear to be stopping, even after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said "rioters must be put in their place."
In pictures: Millions gather in Tehran to demand regime change
Friday 9 January 2026 09:56 , Maira ButtFootage and images from Iran, which is facing a blackout, shows disruption across the city of Tehran as demonstrators demand regime change.
Why Iran’s protests are escalating amid nuclear tensions with US
Friday 9 January 2026 09:52 , Maira ButtIran's theocratic government is facing intensified pressure as nationwide protests erupt, fuelled by the Islamic Republic's struggling economy.
This unrest follows a tumultuous period for Tehran, which is still recovering from a 12-day conflict in June, initiated by Israel, that saw US forces bomb Iranian nuclear facilities.
Economic hardship has deepened significantly since September, when the United Nations reimposed sanctions on the country due to its atomic programme. This has plunged Iran's rial currency into freefall, now exchanging at more than 1.4 million to $1. Concurrently, Tehran's self-described "Axis of Resistance" – a coalition of countries and militant groups backed by the capital – has been significantly weakened since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2023.
Read the full story below.
Why Iran’s protests are escalating amid nuclear tensions with US
Watch: Crowds take to streets across Iran after call to defy regime
Friday 9 January 2026 09:52 , Maira ButtIran authorities cut internet as buildings set on fire during mass protests in Tehran
Friday 9 January 2026 09:49 , Maira ButtBuildings were set on fire in Tehran and Iran faced a complete internet blackout on Thursday evening as massive protests over the economy spread across the country.
People took to the streets in a growing list of cities across the country, in what was rapidly becoming one of the biggest challenges ever to Iran’s clerical leadership.
Huge crowds of protesters in Tehran shouted from their homes and rallied in the street after a call by the country's exiled crown prince for mass demonstrations against the regime.
It was a new escalation in unrest that has spread nationwide across the Islamic Republic, and represented the first test of whether the Iranian public could be swayed by appeals from Reza Pahlavi, whose fatally ill father fled Iran just before the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution.