Iran unrest HIGHLIGHTS | Iran minister says 'there is no plan for hanging' when asked about protests

Iran protests LIVE updates| Trump explores diplomacy with Iran while weighing strikes

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said airstrikes were "one of the many, many options that are on the table," but that "diplomacy is always the first option for the president."

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Iran protests LIVE updates| Another 25% tariff on India? Donald Trump orders 'effective immediately' levy on countries doing business with Iran

US President Donald Trump on Monday announced an additional 25 per cent tariff on countries doing business with Iran.

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Khamenei says strong turnout at pro-government rallies 'warning' to US

AFP reported Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday praised pro-government rallies called by authorities in response to two weeks of protests, saying the turnout was a "warning" to the United States.

'Leave Iran now': US asks citizens to exit immediately amid escalating tensions

Amid escalating tensions, US has asked its citizens to leave Iran immediately.

Rights group estimate a crackdown on protests killed at least 648 people, reports AFP

Mobile phones in Iran begin to be able to make international calls after authorities cut internet in protest crackdown, reports AP

Iran protests LIVE updates| Non-essential French embassy staff have left Iran, reports AFP

Iran protests LIVE updates| Khamenei warns US to 'halt their deceitful actions' as Trump weighs airstrikes

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, "The great Iranian nation has asserted its resolve and identity in the face of the enemies. This was a warning to US politicians that they should halt their deceitful actions and stop relying on their traitorous hirelings.

"These great rallies, overflowing with your firm determination, have completely shattered the foreign enemies’ plots that were supposed to be carried out by internal hirelings."

Iran protests LIVE updates| Iranians tap Musk's Starlink to skirt internet blackout, sources say

Some Iranians are still using Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service despite a nationwide communications blackout, three people inside the country said, the ​latest example of Starlink being used to counter internet shutdowns in geopolitical flashpoints. Iranian authorities have in recent days launched a ‌deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, including the near-complete shutdown of internet service, which is provided through fiber-optic ⁠cables and cellphone towers.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned the US that they are 'ready for war'

Al Jazeera reported the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning the United States that the Islamic Republic is 'ready' for war if Washington wants to “test” it

Bangalore-German Chancellor Merz: Assume We Are Seeing the Final Days and Weeks of Iranian Regime

German Chancellor Merz in Bangalore: Assume We Are Seeing the Final Days and Weeks of Iranian Regime

Finland summons Iran envoy over deadly protests

 Finland's foreign minister said Tuesday that she would summon Iran's ambassador, after Tehran's nationwide shutdown of the internet and violent crackdown on protests.

Iran cut internet 'after terrorist operations began': foreign minister to Al Jazeera

AFP reported Iran ordered a now more than four-day shutdown of the internet because "terrorist operations" began during protests initially sparked by economic grievances, its foreign minister told Al Jazeera on Tuesday.

Iran unrest hits Indian basmati rice exports, prices fall sharply as payment delays mount: industry body

 Civil unrest in Iran has started impacting India's basmati rice exports to the country, leading to a sharp fall in domestic prices, as exporters face payment delays and mounting uncertainties, an industry body said on Tuesday.

The Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) urged exporters to reassess risks on Iranian contracts and adopt secured payment mechanisms, warning against over-leveraging inventories meant for the Iranian market.

Iran's leadership is in its 'final days and weeks', Germany's Merz

Iran protests LIVE updates| About 2,000 killed in Iran protests

​Around ‌2,000 ⁠people ‌were killed in ​Iran protests, an ‌Iranian ‌official ⁠told Reuters on Tuesday, ⁠blaming "terrorists" ⁠for ‌the ‌deaths ‍of civilians and security personnel.

Iran eases some restrictions, allows calls abroad as death toll spikes

Iran eased some restrictions on its people and, for the first time in days, allowed them to make phone calls abroad via their mobile phones on Tuesday. It did not ease restrictions on the internet or allow texting services to be restored

2000 killed, say officials as they blame deaths on 'terrorists'

Around 2,000 people have been killed in the protests, an Iranian official told Reuters, blaming "terrorists" for the deaths of civilians and ⁠security personnel. Human rights groups had previously tallied around 600 deaths. Adding to the stress on Iran's clerical rulers, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military action over Tehran's severe crackdown on the protests, which follow an Israeli and US bombing campaign last year against ​Iran's nuclear program and key officials. (Reuters)

France summons Iranian envoy over crackdown, foreign minister says

France's foreign minister said he ​had summoned the ‌Iranian ambassador ⁠on ‌Tuesday over the "unbearable and inhumane" crackdown by Iranian ​authorities to quell protests across the country.

"I have ‌conveyed ‌this condemnation to my ⁠Iranian counterpart. It will be reiterated to ⁠the ⁠Iranian ambassador in Paris, ‌whom ‌I summoned today," Jean-Noel Barrot told ‍lawmakers in parliament.

"There can be no impunity for those who turned their weapons against peaceful protesters." (Reuters)

Trump tells Iranians to keep protesting, says 'help is on its way'

U.S. President Donald Trump on ​Tuesday told ‌Iranians to ⁠keep ‌protesting and said help was on the way, ​but did not give details.

"Iranian Patriots, ‌KEEP ‌PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!... ⁠HELP IS ON ITS WAY," ⁠Trump ⁠said in a ‌post ‌on Truth Social, adding he had canceled ‍all meetings with Iranian Officials until the "senseless killing" of protesters stopped.

UK, Italy & Germany summon Iranian envoy over killing of protestors

Germany summoned Iran's ambassador in Berlin ​on Tuesday over ‌a crackdown ⁠by Iranian authorities ‌on protesters after two weeks of unrest across ​the country, the foreign ministry said.

Italy aso said ‌it had ⁠summoned ‌the Iranian ambassador over the "absolutely unacceptable" ​crackdown by Iranian authorities to quell protests ‌across ‌the country.

UK govt says summoned Iran ambassador over protest crackdown. (Reuters)

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 said on Tuesday, as concern grew that one man arrested during the protests already risks imminent execution.

Iran eases some communications restrictions as activists say death toll spikes to 2,000

Iran eased some restrictions on its people and, for the first time in days, allowed them to make phone calls abroad via their mobile phones on Tuesday. It did not ease restrictions on the internet or permit texting services to be restored as the death toll from days of bloody protests against the state rose to at least 2,000 people, according to activists.

US will take 'very strong action' if Iran hangs protesters, Trump tells CBS News

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday ​the United ‌States would ⁠take "very ‌strong action" if the Iranian government starts hanging ​protesters, but did not elaborate on what ‌those ‌actions would be.

"I haven't ⁠heard about the hanging. If they ⁠hang ⁠them, you're going to ‌see ‌some things... We will take ‍very strong action if they do such a thing," Trump told CBS News ​in an interview.

Starlink offers free service in Iran

This comes after other communications were cut in protest crackdown.

US President Donald Trump says death toll from Iran protest crackdown is 'significant'

Death toll from crackdown on protests in Iran jumps to at least 2,571, activists say

The figure came from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

The activist group said 2,403 of the dead were protesters and 147 were government-affiliated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenslyy comes in support of Iranian protesters

"We support the position on Iran: A regime that has lasted so many years and killed so many people does not deserve to exist. Changes are needed," he said.

Former Iran queen Farah Pahlavi says freedom will soon be celebrated together in Iran

Iran's judiciary signals fast trials and executions for those detained in nationwide protests

This comes despite US President Donald Trump's warning against hanging its own citizens.

Iran unrest LIVE updates | 'Direct communication' between Washington and Tehran halted amid Trump's threats: Senior Iranian official tells Reuters

Iran unrest LIVE updates | Some personnel were advised to leave US military base in Qatar, diplomats tell Reuters

Some personnel were advised ​to leave the US ‌military's ⁠Al Udeid ‌Air Base in Qatar by Wednesday evening, three ​diplomats told Reuters.

The US embassy in ‌Doha ‌had no immediate comment.

Al Udeid ⁠is the Middle East's largest US ⁠base ⁠housing around 10,000 ‌troops. Ahead ‌of the US air strikes ‍on Iran in June some personnel were moved off US bases in the Middle East.

Iran unrest LIVE updates | MEA urges Indians to leave Iran, stay in contact with embassy

In continuation of the advisory issued by the Government of India on 5 January 2026, and in view of the evolving situation in Iran, MEA in a statement issued on Wednesday advised Indian nationals who are currently in Iran (students, pilgrims, business persons and tourists) are advised to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights.

"It is reiterated that all Indian citizens and PIOs should exercise due caution, avoid areas of protests or demonstrations, stay in contact with the Indian Embassy in Iran and monitor local media for any developments. All Indian nationals in Iran are requested to also have their travel and immigration documents, including passports and IDs, readily available with them. They are requested to contact the Indian Embassy for any assistance in this regard," the MEA said.

Iran unrest LIVE updates | Revolutionary Guards point to battle readiness amid Trump's ‌threats of intervention

Iran's stockpile of missiles has increased ​since a 12-day ‌war with ⁠Israel ‌last year, Revolutionary Guards' Aerospace Commander Majid Mousavi said on Wednesday ​according to state media, following US President Donald ‌Trump's ‌threats of intervention amid ⁠anti-government protests in Iran.

"We are at the peak ⁠of ⁠our readiness," Mousavi ‌was quoted ‌as saying by state media, adding that ‍wartime damages had been repaired and output in various areas by the guards' aerospace forces was ​higher than ‌before June 2025. (Reuters)

Iran unrest LIVE updates | Iran warned regional countries of strikes on US bases if attacked, official tells Reuters

Iran unrest LIVE updates | Judiciary signals fast trials, executions for protesters as death toll crosses 2,500

Amid threats from US President Donald Trump, the head of Iran's judiciary signalled on Wednesday there would be fast trials and executions ahead for those detained in nationwide protests, news agency AP reported.

The comments from Iran's judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei come as activists had warned hangings of those detained could come soon.

Already, a bloody security force crackdown on the demonstrations has killed at least 2,571, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported.

Iran unrest LIVE updates | Iranians arrive in Turkey through border gate as crackdown persists

Dozens ​of Iranians crossed the border into Turkey on Wednesday, as authorities in Iran crack down on one of the biggest ever waves of protest against ​the Islamic Republic's clerical rule. U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iranians ‌on Tuesday to keep protesting, saying help is ⁠on the way. A ‌rights group said 2,600 people have been killed in Iran as the clerical rulers try to quash the major wave of dissent.

Iranian families and individuals arrived in Turkey's eastern province of Van through the Kapikoy border ​gate, pulling luggage and other belongings with them as they made their way through the border gate and got on vehicles heading for nearby towns. Those asked to speak ‌to media ‌declined to do so, expressing fear of repercussions in Iran when they return.

Two diplomats have told ⁠Reuters there has been an increase in the numbers of people crossing from Iran to Turkey after several countries advised their citizens to leave. (Reuters)

Iran unrest LIVE updates | US withdrawing troops from key Middle East bases as precaution, official says

The United States is withdrawing ​personnel from ‌key bases ⁠in the ‌region as a precaution given heightened regional tensions, ​a U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday, ‌speaking ‌on condition of anonymity.

The ⁠disclosure follows remarks by a senior ⁠Iranian ⁠official who told ‌Reuters ‌earlier on Wednesday that Tehran had ‍warned neighbors hosting U.S. troops that it would hit American bases if Washington strikes. (Reuters)

Iran unrest LIVE updates | Qatar says precautionary steps taken at US-run Al Udeid base because of regional tensions

Qatar said on Wednesday precautionary ​measures had been ‌taken at ⁠the ‌US-run Al Udeid Air Base, including the departure of ​some personnel, because of rising regional tensions, according ‌to ‌its International Media Office.

The office ⁠said the steps were part of ⁠broader ⁠efforts to safeguard the ‌security ‌of citizens and residents and to ‍protect critical infrastructure and military facilities, adding that any further developments would be announced through official channels.

Iran unrest LIVE updates | EAM Jaishankar says he received a call from Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi

"We discussed the evolving situation in and around Iran," Jaishankar wrote in a post on X.

Iran unrest LIVE updates | Nearly 3,500 killed, over 10,000 arrested in crackdown on protestors

Iranian security forces have killed at least 3,428 protestors in a crackdown on demonstrations, the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO said on Wednesday, news agency AFP reported.

It added that more than 10,000 people had also been arrested.

Iran unrest LIVE updates | Italy urges its citizens to leave Iran because of security concerns

Italy has strongly renewed ​an appeal to its citizens to leave Iran ‌because of the security situation ⁠in the ‌country, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

There are around 600 Italians in Iran, most of them in the Tehran ​area, it added. With Iran's leadership trying to quell the worst domestic unrest the Islamic Republic has ever ‌faced, ‌Tehran is seeking to deter U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated ⁠threats to intervene on behalf of anti-government protesters.

Iran unrest LIVE updates | Trump claims killing of Iran protesters 'has stopped' even as Tehran signals executions ahead

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he's been told “on good authority” that plans for executions in Iran have stopped, even as Tehran has signaled fast trials and executions ahead in its crackdown on protesters.

Iran unrest LIVE updates | Iran minister says 'there is no plan for hanging' when asked about protests

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said ​on Wednesday "there ‌is no ⁠plan" by ‌Iran to hang people, when asked about the anti-government ​protests in the Middle Eastern nation.