Kumar Bahukhandi
Iran’s army chief Amir Hatami (C) posing for a photograph with military officials and military academy students in Tehran. Iran’s military chief warned on January 7, 2026, that Iran will not stand by and allow itself to be threatened by outside powers, after the U.S. and Israel backed anti-government protests. | Photo Credit: AFP
U.S. President Trump threatened to take severe action against Iran if its authorities “start killing people”
A ‘nationwide internet blackout’ was reported in Iran on Thursday night (January 8, 2026) amid a fresh wave of escalation in Tehran following a call for mass demonstration by the country’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. This comes after twelve days of protests in the country over its ailing economy.
Rights groups accused Iranian security forces of shooting at protesters as the death toll mounted from a crackdown by authorities. So far, at least 45 people have been killed, while more than 2,260 others have been detained, as per human rights agencies.
Also Read | At a crossroads: On Iran’s unrest, its re-engagement with the world
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (January 8) threatened to take severe action if Iranian authorities “start killing people” who are protesting, warning that Washington would “hit them very hard”. The country under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is battling an economic crisis after years of sanctions and recovering from the June war against Israel.
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January 09, 2026 10:51
Iran State TV breaks silence on protests, claims ’terrorist agents’ of U.S. and Israel set fires
Iranian State media has accused “terrorist agents” of the U.S. and Israel of setting fires and sparking violence during recent demonstrations.
The brief report buried in State TV’s 8 a.m. broadcast represented the first official word about the demonstrations. It claimed the protests saw violence that caused casualties but did not elaborate.
It also said the protests saw “people’s private cars, motorcycles, public places such as the metro, fire trucks and buses set on fire.”
- AP
January 09, 2026 09:44
Religious Nazi who kills his people: U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham slams Iran’s supreme leader Khamenei
U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has issued a sharp warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying President Donald Trump could resort to lethal action if the Iranian authorities continue to kill or injure protesters.
He also said that Mr. Khamenei was a “religious Nazi who kills his own people and terrorises the world”. Mr. Graham said, “We stand for you taking your country back from the Ayatollah, a religious Nazi who kills his own people and terrorises the world.”
Turning his remarks directly toward Iran’s leadership, the U.S. Senator warned, “If you keep killing your people who are just asking for a new and better life, then it will be Donald J. Trump’s killing.” He also sought to reassure protesters, saying, “Help is on the way.”
- ANI
January 09, 2026 09:37
Enthusiasm to overturn regime incredible: Trump on Iran protests
President Donald Trump on Thursday (January 8, 2026) warned Iran’s Government against harming protesters, stating that the United States would intervene if innocent people were killed amid the ongoing demonstrations in the Middle Eastern country.During an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Mr. Trump said, “If they do anything bad to these people, we’re going to hit them very hard,” reiterating a similar warning he had issued on social media last week.
Commenting on the scale of the unrest, he added that “the enthusiasm to overturn the regime has been incredible.”
- ANI
January 09, 2026 09:30
People do not want this regime: Iranian activist Masih Alinejad urges global support amid protests
Prominent Iranian activist and journalist Masih Alinejad has urged the international community to support ongoing protests in Iran, saying the demands of the Iranian people are unequivocal as demonstrations enter their twelfth day.
In a post on social media platform X (formerly, Twitter), Alinejad referred to the continuing protests and her appearance on Fox News, stating, “On the Fox News network @FoxNews and on the twelfth day of the Iranian people’s protests: The message of the Iranian people is clear. The people do not want this regime and will never allow the reformists to take power.”
- ANI
January 09, 2026 06:57
We stand by Iranian people who are advocating for their rights: U.S. V-P J.D. Vance
U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance on Thursday (January 8, 2026) reiterated support for the Iranian people, saying that the United States stands by anybody who is engaged in peaceful protests and trying to exert their rights for free association.
While addressing presspersons at the White House, V-P Vance said that the United States would stand by the citizens of Iran. When asked if the U.S. would take part if Israel decides to strike the nuclear sites in Iran, the U.S. Vice-President said that the United States would stand by anybody who is engaged in peaceful protests and that the “smartest thing” for Iran to have negotiations with the United States on its nuclear programme.
“We certainly stand by anybody who’s engaged in peaceful protests, anybody who’s trying to exert their rights for free association and to have their voices heard. Obviously, the Iranian regime has a lot of problems, and as the President of the United States has said, the smartest thing for them to have done, it was true two months ago, it’s true today is for them to actually have a real negotiation with the United States about what we need to see when it comes to their nuclear program. I’ll let the President speak to what we’re going to do in the future, but we certainly stand with anybody across the world, including the Iranian people, who are advocating for their rights,” Mr. Vance said.
-ANI
- January 09, 2026 05:00I
- ran protests over ailing economy began on Dec. 28The protests in Iran first began on December 28, 2025, in the bazaar of Tehran over the plunging value of the currency and soaring inflation, the biggest wave of dissent in three years.Over 12 days, the protests spread nationwide amid deepening distress over rocketing inflation driven by mismanagement and Western sanctions, and curbs on political and social freedoms.Iranian authorities have acknowledged the economic hardships facing Iranians, but accused networks linked to foreign powers of stoking the protests. Iran’s top judge warned protesters on Wednesday there would be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic.”– Reuters
- January 09, 2026 04:08U.S.
- Treasury’s Bessent says Iran facing precarious momentIran’s economy is facing high inflation and other challenges, partly due to U.S. sanctions, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday (January 8, 2026), underscoring Washington’s concerns about Tehran cracking down violently on anti-regime protests.“The Iranian economy is on the ropes,” Mr. Bessent told the Economic Club of Minnesota, underscoring President Donald Trump’s warning to Tehran to avoid harming protesters.“It’s a very precarious moment. He does not want them to harm more of the protesters. This is a tense moment,” the U.S. Treasury secretary said, referring to Mr. Trump’s threat to hit Tehran if it began killing protesters.- Reuters
- January 09, 2026 03:42Before blackout, Iran’s exiled Crown Prince had called for mass demonstrationReza Pahlavi, the son of the shah ousted by the 1979 Islamic revolution and a key exiled Opposition figure, urged major new protests on Thursday (January 8, 2026).Before the blackout, he warned that the “frightened” authorities could cut internet access to prevent information filtering out.The call for mass demonstration by Crown Prince Pahlavi came after twelve days of protests in the country over its ailing economy.
- – AFP
- January 09, 2026 03:19
- Iran’s President calls for ‘utmost restraint’ amid escalating protestsIran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian called for “utmost restraint” in handling demonstrations, saying “any violent or coercive behaviour should be avoided”.German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, meanwhile, condemned the “excessive use of force” against protesters.With the protests now spreading across Iran, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said rallies had taken place in 348 locations in all of Iran’s 31 provinces.-
- AFP
- January 09, 2026 02:54
- Iran protests: At least 45 protesters killed as death toll mountsRaising its own toll based on verified deaths, a Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights said security forces had killed at least 45 protesters, including eight minors.The NGO said Wednesday (January 7, 2026) was the bloodiest day since the demonstrations began, with 13 protesters confirmed to have been killed.“The evidence shows that the scope of the crackdown is becoming more violent and more extensive every day,” said IHR Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, adding hundreds more have been wounded and more than 2,000 arrested
- .- AFP
- January 09, 2026 02:25
- Images show Iranians mass on Tehran avenue in major anti-govt. protestProtesters in Tehran massed on a key avenue in the northwest of the Iranian capital on Thursday (January 8, 2026) in a major protest that is part of a nationwide movement sparked by anger over Iran’s ailing economy.The escalation in Tehran were confirmed via images on social media by AFP.Crowds of people, as well vehicles honking in support, filled a part of the vast Ayatollah Kashani Boulevard, images from Tehran showed.Persian language TV channels based outside Iran and other social media outlets posted images of significant protests in other cities, including Tabriz in the north and the holy city of Mashhad in the east.
- – AFP
- January 09, 2026 02:11
- Iran protests: Security forces accused of firing on protesters as death toll mountsAmid a fresh wave of escalation in Iran protests, rights groups accused Iranian security forces of shooting at demonstrators as the death toll mounted on Thursday (January 8, 2026).This is the latest development amid a crackdown on economic protests as a watchdog reported an internet blackout across the Islamic republic.So far, at least 39 people have been killed, while more than 2,260 others have been detained, as per the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.– AP, AFP
- January 09, 2026 01:58
- Nationwide internet blackout as protests mount in IranInternet blackout in Iran as protests mount; Trump warns of U.S. actionIran experiences a nationwide internet blackout amid escalating protests, as authorities crack down on demonstrators and communication.
Source AFP with Inputs from ANI and Reuters
