- Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tells Al Jazeera: “If Washington wants to test the military option it has tested before, we are ready for it.”
- Tens of thousands of pro-government demonstrators take to the streets in a show of force after weeks of deadly protests as Iran continues to be cut off from the internet for a fifth-straight day.
UN rights office worried over remarks about death penalty for protestors
Here’s more from the UN human rights chief Volker Turk on protests in Iran.
Turk said it was “extremely worrying to see public statements by some judicial officials indicating the possibility of the death penalty being used against protesters through expedited judicial proceedings”.
He also decried the labelling of protestors as “terrorists”.
Qatar warns of ‘catastrophic results’ over Iran-US escalation
Qatar is attempting to mediate the rising tensions and threats of war between the United States and Iran over the deadly demonstrations over the past two weeks.
“There are expectations that the current tension will lead to an escalation in the region, and we are trying to de-escalate the situation,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said at a press conference in Doha.
“We know that any escalation … would have catastrophic results in the region and beyond and, therefore, we want to avoid that as much as possible.”
Al-Ansari added diplomacy is the most effective way to resolve regional crises, and “we are working on this with our neighbours and partners”.
“We are a party to the contacts aimed at calming the situation in the region and resolving the disputes between Washington and Tehran,” he said.
Majed al-Ansari, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, at a weekly briefing in Doha [File: Imad Creidi/Reuters] UN rights office says ‘hundreds’ killed in Iran protests but cannot give precise number
The UN human rights chief says he’s “horrified” by the mounting violence against protesters in Iran.
“This cycle of horrific violence cannot continue. The Iranian people and their demands for fairness, equality and justice must be heard,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement read out by spokesperson Jeremy Laurence.
Asked to comment on the scale of the killings, Laurence, citing the UN’s own sources in Iran, said he cannot give a precise number but added: “The number that we’re hearing is hundreds.”
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Here are the latest developments:
- Iran’s intelligence agency says it has seized US arms and explosives allegedly hidden by “cell members”.
- Senior US officials are considering a range of responses to Iran from diplomacy to military action, according to Vice President JD Vance’s communications director.
- Beijing has criticised the Trump administration’s approach, saying it “firmly opposes any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction”.
- European countries, including Finland and Spain, have criticised Iran’s crackdown on the protests.
- Oil prices have extended their gains amid concerns that escalating uncertainty surrounding Iran could disrupt global energy supplies.
Spain condemns Iran protest crackdown
The Spanish government has summoned Iran’s ambassador in Madrid to formally protest against the crackdown on the nationwide demonstrations.
Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said the government conveyed its “condemnation” of the response to the protests, which have been met with mass arrests and the use of lethal force.
“The right of Iranian men and women to peaceful protest, their freedom of expression, must be respected,” Albares said in an interview with Catalunya Radio. He added that “arbitrary arrests must cease”.
The Spanish foreign minister also urged Iran to re-engage diplomatically, calling on Tehran to “return to the dialogue tables and to the negotiating tables”.
Opposition activists said hundreds of protesters have been killed in the protests while state media have reported the deaths of more than 100 security personnel. Al Jazeera cannot independently verify these figures.
Nonessential French embassy staff depart Iran: Report
France’s Foreign Ministry says it has “reconfigured” its embassy in Tehran after reports the facility’s nonessential staff left Iran earlier this week.
The AFP news agency reported some staff left the country on Sunday and Monday because of the protests. The ambassador remains on site and the embassy continues to function, the ministry said.
Prompted by economic grievances, the nationwide protests have grown into one of the biggest challenges yet to the theocratic system that has ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution ousted US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Empress Farah at Mehrabad airport in Tehran in 1979 [File: AP]
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Iran since 1979: A timeline of crises
The protests in Iran are grabbing headlines, with the government and the opposition accusing each other of escalating violence.
Iranian officials say foreign interference is behind the deadly unrest. It’s the latest round of demonstrations against Iran’s governing system since the 1979 revolution that toppled the shah and ushered in the country.
Here is a timeline of some of the main events from the last five decades.
Iranian protesters demonstrate against Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in Tehran in 1978 [File: AP Photo] Finland to summon Iranian envoy over protest response
Finland says it will summon Iran’s ambassador in response to its crackdown on nationwide protests and the blocking of internet access.
“Iran’s regime has shut down the internet to be able to kill and oppress in silence,” Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said. “This will not be tolerated. We stand with the people of Iran – women and men alike.”
Valtonen also said Finland is working with the European Union to explore measures aimed at supporting the Iranian people and restoring what she described as their “freedom”.
State understands ‘complicated economic situation’ but won’t tolerate ‘unrest’
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the government is going to restore the internet soon, but how soon is something that we don’t know.
From Thursday night onwards, we have been witnessing a constant internet shutdown. Only the domestic websites have been available right now. But restrictions on international phone calls were eased. This could be interpreted as the government understanding that the situation should be cooled down first.
On Monday, we saw hundreds of thousands of demonstrators take to the streets in support of the Iranian state, and right now, if you look at the state-affiliated media and some official statements, the state is trying to sell it as a sort of victory card to show that society is on their side.
Whether it comes to economic demands or politics, we have to keep in mind that the state is trying to distinguish between these two. The state says on the one hand it understands the complicated economic situation for the people, but it’s not going to tolerate any unrest. The government did come out to say that they recognise the right of people to peacefully protest.
Australian senator urges citizens to leave Iran
Australian Senator Penny Wong is urging nationals in Iran to depart the country as tensions rise, with deadly protests and military threats from the United States.
“Our ability to provide services in Iran is extremely limited. I urge any Australians still in Iran to leave now while commercial options are available,” said Wong in a post on social media.
The warning comes after the US also urged its citizens to flee in an alert, saying “leave Iran now.”
German leader suggests Iran’s government in ‘final days and weeks’
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has doubled down on his call to end violence against protesters in Iran, predicting the leadership is unlikely to last.
“If a regime can only keep itself in power by force, then it’s effectively at the end,” said Merz. “I believe we are now seeing the final days and weeks of this regime. In any case, it has no legitimacy through elections in the population. The population is now rising up against this regime.”
There is “a possibility to end this conflict peacefully”, he added, noting Germany is in close contact with the US and European governments.
Iranian officials have accused the US and Israel of fomenting the deadly unrest to justify an anticipated attack on the country.
Oil prices rise amid uncertainty in Iran
Oil prices have extended gains as concerns grow over unrest in Iran, with analysts warning any escalation could disrupt global supplies.
“Unrest in Iran has added about $3-4 a barrel in geopolitical risk premium in oil prices in our view,” Barclays said in a note.
ING commodities strategists said the rise in prices came as protests intensified across the country, while Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene militarily.
It comes as Iran, one of the largest producers in OPEC, is facing its biggest antigovernment protests in years.
The political developments matter for oil markets as Iran is a significant sanctioned producer, and any escalation could disrupt supply or add a geopolitical risk premium.
Trump is likely to meet his senior advisers on Tuesday to discuss options on Iran [File: Reuters] China will ‘safeguard its legitimate rights and interests’
As we’ve been reporting, Trump has announced a 25 percent tariff on any country doing business with Iran.
We now have reactions from the Foreign Ministry of China, which was locked in an escalating trade war with the US last year after being hit with 145 percent tariffs, prompting retaliations.
“We have always believed that there are no winners in a tariff war, and China will resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters when asked about Trump’s announcement.
In response to a question about advice for Chinese citizens travelling to Iran for tourism, Mao said China was “closely monitoring the development of the situation”.
“We will take all necessary measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens,” she said.
China responds to Trump’s tariff threats against Iran’s trading partners -
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2h ago(08:30 GMT)
Israel ‘on alert’ over Iran protests
The Israeli military says it continues to be “on alert for surprise scenarios” due to the ongoing protests in Iran, but has not made any changes to guidelines for civilians, as it does before a concrete threat.
“The protests in Iran are an internal matter,” Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin wrote on X.
Israel attacked Iran in June last year, resulting in a 12-day war that killed nearly 1,200 Iranians and almost 30 Israelis. Over the past week, Iran has stated it would retaliate if either Israel or the US attacks.
Lack of organisation hinders Iran protest movement
The demonstrations represent a significant threat to Iran’s leadership, but analysts say the movement faces major obstacles.
“These protests arguably represent the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic in years, both in scale and in their increasingly explicit political demands,” said Nicole Grajewski, a professor at the Sciences Po Centre for International Studies in Paris.
However, she cautioned it remains unclear how far they’ll progress because of “the sheer depth and resilience of Iran’s repressive apparatus”.
Thomas Juneau, a professor at the University of Ottawa, said he doesn’t believe the fall of the government is imminent, though he acknowledged growing uncertainty.
“I am less confident in this assessment than in the past,” he said, noting that while demonstrations have expanded, they’re not yet at a “critical mass”.
Arash Azizi, a lecturer at Yale University, said protesters lack durable organisational networks capable of withstanding repression. Organising strikes in strategic sectors could be effective, but would require leadership that is currently absent, he added.
US weapons, explosive devices found in homes in Iran: Intelligence agency
Iran’s intelligence agency says US arms and explosive equipment have been seized from “cell members” who hid the weapons in several homes in the country.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier announced authorities have recordings of voices from abroad giving orders to protesters.
Iranian officials have accused the US and Israel of deploying “foreign agents” to the country to instigate violence, so the potential use of military force could be used.
Iranian, Pakistani FMs discuss regional issues, protests
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Pakistani counterpart, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, have discussed ongoing developments in Iran as well as regional issues over the phone, the official IRNA news agency reports.
During the telephone conversation yesterday, Dar stressed the importance of dialogue and engagement during the ongoing protests, IRNA reported.
Yesterday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting rejected reports circulating on social media alleging that Pakistan could be used as a base for a possible US military strike on Iran, Pakistani media reported.
What we know about protests sweeping Iran
Demonstrations in Iran in late December 2025 that broke out over economic conditions have snowballed into a broader challenge for the clerical rulers who have governed since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The initial protests were staged by shopkeepers in Tehran, angered by skyrocketing prices. A fragmented opposition base is now emerging both inside Iran and within Iranian diaspora communities in other countries.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened that Washington could intervene militarily in Iran if there is a violent crackdown. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi alleged demonstrations “turned violent and bloody to give an excuse” for Trump to intervene militarily.
Read more here.
‘Suite of options’: Trump presented with military, diplomatic paths on Iran
Senior figures in the Trump administration are weighing diplomatic and military paths on Iran.
“Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio together are presenting a suite of options to the president, ranging from a diplomatic approach to military actions,” said William Martin, JD Vance’s communications director.
The comments come after a Wall Street Journal report suggested aides led by Vance are urging Trump to pursue diplomacy before authorising any strikes on Iran.
Martin said the characterisation is inaccurate, adding options are being presented “without bias or favour” as Trump continues to warn Tehran the US has “very strong” options available during ongoing protests.
Trump with Vance, left, Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth [File: Carlos Barria via AP] Brief return of international calls amid communication restrictions
Mobile phone users in Iran have been briefly able to make international calls days after authorities imposed sweeping communication restrictions during nationwide protests.
Several people in Tehran were able to contact The Associated Press news agency and speak to a journalist outside the country, although the news agency said its bureau in Dubai was unable to return calls to those numbers.
Iranians reported text messaging services remained down and access to the internet is still cut off from the outside world.
Iranian authorities shut down the internet and blocked international calls on Thursday as protests intensified across the country.
Security forces stand guard during a pro-government rally on Monday in Iran’s capital [Getty Images] China blasts latest US tariff threat over Iran trade
China has criticised the Trump administration’s approach to Iran, warning against unilateral pressure as tensions continue to rise during protests across the country.
In a statement issued in Washington, DC, the Chinese embassy said Beijing “firmly opposes any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction”, and will take “all necessary measures” to safeguard its interests.
The comments come as President Donald Trump increases pressure on Tehran, saying countries that engage in trade with Iran will face a 25 percent tariff.
“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,” an embassy spokesperson said.
‘Leave Iran now’: US urges its citizens to flee during demonstrations
The United States has urged its citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately as demonstrations escalate and security restrictions tighten nationwide.
In a security alert issued on Tuesday, the Virtual US Embassy in Iran warned that protests “are escalating and may turn violent, resulting in arrests and injuries”. It said “increased security measures, road closures, public transportation disruptions, and internet blockages are ongoing.
“Leave Iran now. Have a plan for departing Iran that does not rely on US government help,” it said.
The Iranian government has “restricted access to mobile, landline, and national internet networks”, while airlines “continue to limit or cancel flights to and from Iran” with several suspending services until Friday, the alert said.
Those able to leave were advised to “consider departing Iran by land to Armenia or Turkiye”.
It said Americans face “significant risk of questioning, arrest, and detention”, adding “showing a US passport or demonstrating connections to the United States can be reason enough” for detention.
A billboard depicts coffins draped with US and Israeli flags in Tehran, Iran, on Monday [Getty Images] Internet now out in Iran for more than 100 hours, says monitor
It has now been 108 hours since Iran’s nationwide internet shutdown took effect, according to the cybersecurity monitor NetBlocks.
Despite the continued blackout, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told foreign diplomats on Monday the internet will soon be restored, adding the government is coordinating with the security establishment on the issue.
National connectivity levels continue to flatline at about 1 percent of ordinary levels, according to the London-based internet monitoring group.
US senator urges Trump to escalate pressure on Iran
Hardline US Senator Lindsey Graham has urged President Trump to escalate pressure on Iran’s leadership while crediting him with destabilising governments elsewhere.
Addressing Trump directly, Graham said Venezuela was “going to be free because of you”, adding “Cuba is next,” before claiming the “biggest prize” of Trump’s presidency would be the “demise of the Iranian state led by the Ayatollah”.
Calling on Trump to “stand behind the people”, Graham said fulfilling that promise would secure his place in history, comparing him favourably to Ronald Reagan. He added US military action should focus on targeting “the infrastructure that allows the killing to happen”, while stopping short of advocating a ground invasion.
Graham later dismissed the idea that Tehran would honour any nuclear deal, saying those who believed otherwise were “fools”, and claimed protesters were demonstrating because they “believe in Trump”.
Here are the latest developments
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tells Al Jazeera that Iran is ready to engage in nuclear talks with the United States “provided it is without threats or dictates”.
- A pro-government rally enveloped Iran’s capital with attendance estimated at tens of thousands of supporters after two weeks of deadly antigovernment protests.
- President Donald Trump announced countries doing business with Iran face a 25 percent tariff when trading with the United States, drawing a sharp rebuke from China.
- Iran continues to be cut off from the internet with the blackout reaching more than 108 hours, according to global internet connectivity monitor NetBlocks.
- Opposition activists say hundreds of protesters have been killed, while state media report more than 100 security personnel have also died in clashes. Al Jazeera cannot independently confirm either figure.