US President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544. Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman "long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran" travelled toIran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defence. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to foreign diplomats in Tehran, insisted "the situation has come under total control" in fiery remarks that blamed Israel and the US for the violence, without offering evidence. "That's why the demonstrations turned violent and bloody to give an excuse to the American president to intervene", Araghchi said, in comments carried by the Qatar-funded Al Jazeera satellite news network. Al Jazeera has been allowed to report from inside the country live despite the internet being shut off. Meanwhile, on Monday, Iran called for pro-government demonstrators to head to the streets in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, who shouted "Death to America!" and "Death to Israel!" Trump acknowledges proposal for talks Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran, including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the US or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. "The military is looking at it, and we're looking at some very strong options", Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran's threats of retaliation, he said: "If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they've never been hit before". Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters. "I think they're tired of being beaten up by the United States", Trump said. "Iran wants to negotiate". He added, ¿The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what's happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.¿ Iran's parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the US military and Israel would be "legitimate targets" if America uses force to protect demonstrators. More than 10,600 people have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran cross-checking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces. With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran's government has not offered overall casualty figures. Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran's security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country's capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media. Fear pervades Iran's capital In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted. Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: "Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers". Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations. "Dear parents, in view of the enemy's plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, ... refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country", the text warned. The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown. The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to USD 1, as the country's economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear programme. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran's theocracy. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
12 January,2026 01:30 PM IST | Dubai | APAt least 544 people have been killed and more than 10,681 individuals arrested and transferred to prisons amid protests in Iran, as demonstrators have taken to the streets across multiple provinces over the past 15 days in anti-government rallies driven by soaring inflation, economic hardship and mounting public anger over governance. According to the latest data released by the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Sunday, protests erupted at 585 locations across the country, spanning 186 cities in all 31 provinces, underscoring the scale and intensity of the unrest now in its fifteenth day. In the report, HRANA, which is registered in the United States of America as a non-profit noted that over the past 24 hours it had received a fresh wave of data and visual documentation, even as an internet shutdown--now in place since the thirteenth day of protests--has severely hampered independent verification and information flow. According to HRANA's verified figures up to January 11, 483 protesters have been killed, along with 47 members of military and law enforcement forces and one government-affiliated non-civilian. The dead also include five non-protesting civilian citizens, while eight children under the age of 18 have been recorded among the fatalities, though they are not included in the main breakdown. In addition to confirmed deaths, 579 other reported fatalities remain under investigation. "Based on HRANA's latest aggregated and verified data to date, protests have taken place at 585 locations nationwide, including 186 cities across all 31 provinces. As of this date: 47 members of military/law enforcement forces have been killed. One government-affiliated non-civilian (a prosecutor) has been killed. 483 protesters have been killed. Eight children (under 18) are recorded among the dead (not included in the above figures). Five people have been killed as non-protesting civilian citizens. Accordingly, the total number of confirmed fatalities has reached 544 so far. In addition, HRANA has received 579 other reports of deaths that remain under investigation," the human rights group stated. However, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), in a post on X, said that more Iranian security personnel have been killed during the current protests than in any previous protest wave. Citing IRGC-affiliated media, ISW said at least 114 regime security officers from the Law Enforcement Command (LEC), Basij, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have been killed since protests began on December 28. ISW noted that Esfahan province recorded the highest number of LEC and IRGC deaths at 30, followed by nine deaths in Ghazvin province. The post added that the IRGC has been particularly active in western Iran, including the Kermanshah and West Azerbaijan provinces, and warned that the actual number of security force casualties is likely higher than officially reported. "More Iranian security officers have died during the current protests than in any other protest wave in Iran. IRGC-affiliated media reported on January 11 that at least 114 regime security personnel from the Law Enforcement Command (LEC), Basij, and IRGC have been killed since the start of the protests on December 28," the post added. According to the ISW, the current wave of protests has already surpassed the 2022-2023 Mahsa Amini movement, during which over 70 regime security personnel were killed, making this the deadliest period of unrest in Iran in recent years. Amid the massive protests across several provinces in Iran, US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) said that the Islamic Republic appears to be crossing a "red line" set by his administration, following the reports of the killing, prompting Washington to consider what he described as "very strong options". Addressing reporters onboard Air Force One, when asked whether Iran had crossed the red line he had drawn over the treatment of protesters, Trump said, "They're starting to; it looks like." The US President, referring to the ongoing protests in the Islamic Republic, added that those in power were ruling through violence. He emphasised that the situation was being closely monitored at the highest levels of the US government. "There seem to be some people killed that aren't supposed to be killed. These are violent - if you call them leaders, I don't know if they're leaders or if they just rule through violence - but we're looking at it very seriously. The military's looking at it. We're looking at some very strong options; we'll make a determination," Trump stated. Trump further stated that Washington may be forced to take action against Iran amid ongoing nationwide protests, even as he revealed that Tehran has reached out to Washington seeking negotiations. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
12 January,2026 10:51 AM IST | Tehran [Iran] | ANIIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (local time) said that they are "closely monitoring" the unfolding situation in Iran, as protests demanding freedom continue to spread across the country. Netanyahu voiced strong support for the Iranian people's struggle against what he described as "tyranny". The protests began on December 28 as demonstrations against soaring inflation and economic hardship, but soon escalated into tense nationwide unrest, marked by violent clashes between protesters and security forces. In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote, "Israel is closely monitoring the events unfolding in Iran. The protests for freedom have spread throughout the country. The people of Israel, and the entire world, stand in awe of the immense bravery of Iran's citizens." Israel is closely monitoring the events unfolding in Iran. The protests for freedom have spread throughout the country.The people of Israel, and the entire world, stand in awe of the immense bravery of Iran's citizens.Israel supports their struggle for freedom and strongly… pic.twitter.com/ya68R9Q1ds — Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) January 11, 2026 Netanyahu condemned the violence against protesters and said that "Israel stands firmly against the killing of civilians". "Israel supports their struggle for freedom and strongly condemns the mass killings of innocent civilians. We all hope that the Persian nation will soon be liberated from the yoke of tyranny," Netanyahu said. The Israeli Prime Minister also spoke about the possibility of renewed ties between Israel and Iran. "When that day comes, Israel and Iran will once again be faithful partners in building a future of prosperity and peace for both nations," he said. At least 420 protesters have been killed in Iran during anti-government demonstrations over the past 15 days, including eight children, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), CNN reported. Demonstrations have spread across multiple cities, with authorities responding through arrests, crackdowns, and the use of force. Human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns over the scale of casualties and the treatment of protesters. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on "rioters" and foreign interference, while maintaining that legitimate economic grievances will be addressed. International leaders have increasingly spoken out on the situation. Pope Leo, addressing crowds at the Vatican after his Angelus prayer, said he was praying for peace in Iran. Amid the unrest, US officials told CNN that President Trump is weighing several military options in Iran following deadly protests, after warning Tehran against using lethal force on demonstrators. Iranian Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad said legal action against protesters would be strict. According to Tasnim news agency, he said proceedings would be carried out "without leniency, mercy or appeasement." "The charges against all rioters are the same," he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2026 07:56 AM IST | Tel Aviv | ANIHamas has said it will dissolve its existing government in Gaza once a Palestinian technocratic leadership committee takes over the territory, as mandated under the US-brokered peace plan. But the group on Sunday gave no specifics on when the change will occur. Hamas and the rival Palestinian Authority, the Palestinians' internationally recognised representative, have not announced the names of the technocrats, who are not supposed to be politically affiliated, and it remains unclear if they will be cleared by Israel and the US. The 'Board of Peace,' an international body led by Trump, is supposed to oversee the government and other aspects of the ceasefire that took effect on Oct 10, including disarming Hamas and deploying an international security force. The board's members have not been announced. Meanwhile, the post-ceasefire death toll continued to rise in Gaza, with Israeli gunfire killing three Palestinians, according to Palestinian hospital officials. The ceasefire began with a halt in fighting and the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for thousands of Palestinians held by Israel. The deal is still in its first phase as efforts continue to recover the remains of the final hostage left in Gaza. An Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door information, said Hamas was sending a delegation to talks with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish officials about moving to the second phase. In comments posted on his Telegram channel Sunday, Hazem Kassem, a Hamas spokesperson, called for speeding up the establishment of the technocratic committee. The Egyptian official said Hamas will meet with other Palestinian factions this week to finalise the committee's formation. The Hamas delegation will be chaired by top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, the official said. Trump has said the 'Board of Peace " will monitor the committee and handle the disarmament of Hamas, the deployment of an international security force, additional pullbacks of Israeli troops and Gaza's reconstruction. The US has reported little progress on any of these fronts, though the members of the board are expected to be announced this week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov has been selected as the board's director-general. Mladenov is a former Bulgarian defence and foreign minister who served as UN envoy to Iraq before being appointed as the UN Mideast peace envoy from 2015 to 2020. During that time, he had good working relations with Israel and frequently worked to ease Israel-Hamas tensions. Also Sunday, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar met in Jerusalem with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Saar said Israel was committed to enforcing Trump's plan, while Motegi expressed Japan's willingness to play an active role in the ceasefire. According to Japan's Foreign Ministry, Motegi visited the Civil-Military Coordination Centre, where the ceasefire is being monitored. He was also set to meet Netanyahu and Palestinian officials in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. In Gaza, two men were shot dead in the southern town of Bani Suhaila, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. Earlier Sunday, a man was killed by Israeli gunfire in the Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza City, according to Al-Ahly hospital, which received the body. In response to questions about the Tuffah incident, Israel's military said it had fired at and hit a 'terrorist' in northern Gaza who had approached troops. In a later statement, the military said it had killed a 'terrorist' in southern Gaza who approached troops. Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire. Continued Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed more than 400 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The Israeli military says any actions since the ceasefire began have been in response to violations of the agreement. Israeli police said Sunday they were questioning a top official from Netanyahu's office over possible obstruction of an investigation into last year's leak of classified military information to a German tabloid. Israeli media identified the official as Tzachi Braverman, Netanyahu's chief of staff, who is expected to start as the next ambassador to the United Kingdom in the coming months. He's the latest official to be caught up in the scandal, in which Netanyahu's inner circle is accused of leaking confidential information to German tabloid Bild to improve public perception of the prime minister following the killing of six hostages in Gaza in 2024. It comes after an explosive interview by Kan News with former Netanyahu spokesperson Eli Feldstein, who described a clandestine meeting with Braverman in an underground parking lot in the middle of the night in connection with the leak. Feldstein, who has been indicted, said Braverman offered to 'shut down' the probe into the leaked information. Opposition leader Yair Lapid immediately called for the suspension of Braverman as ambassador. 'It is unacceptable that a person suspected of involvement in obstructing a serious security investigation should be the face of Israel in one of Europe's most important countries,' Lapid wrote on X. In response, Saar defended Braverman's appointment and said he would not be removed from it until formally charged or tried. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2026 07:52 AM IST | Cairo | APBritain is discussing with NATO allies how it can help beef up security in the Arctic to counter threats from Russia and China, a government minister said Sunday. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the talks are 'business as usual' rather than a response to recent threats by US President Donald Trump to take over Greenland. Trump said Friday that he would like to make a deal to acquire Greenland, a semiautonomous region of NATO ally Denmark, to prevent Russia or China from taking it over. 'We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not,' Trump said Friday. Greenland, with a population of around 57,000, is defended by Denmark, whose military is dwarfed by that of the US, which has a military base on the island. Denmark's prime minister has warned that a takeover would threaten NATO. Tensions have grown between the US and Denmark since the Trump administration renewed its warnings against Greenland. Jesper Moller Sorensen, Denmark's ambassador to the US, fired back at newly tapped US Greenland envoy Jeff Landry, who said in a social media post that the 'US defended Greenland's sovereignty during (World War II) when Denmark couldn't'. Sorensen responded that Denmark has always stood alongside the US, particularly after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks, and that only Greenlanders should decide their future. 'Let's continue to address security challenges in the Arctic as partners & allies,' Sorensen wrote. Danish officials are meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week. The UK agrees with Trump that Russia and China are increasingly becoming more competitive in the Arctic Circle, Alexander said. 'Whilst we haven't seen the appalling consequences in that part of the world that we've seen in Ukraine, it is really important that we do everything that we can with all of our NATO allies to ensure that we have an effective deterrent in that part of the globe against (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,' Alexander told the BBC. Britain's former ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, who was sacked last year because of his friendship with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, said he did not think Trump would take Greenland by force. 'He's not a fool,' Mandelson said. 'We are all going to have to wake up to the reality that the Arctic needs securing against China and Russia. And if you ask me who is going to lead in that effort to secure, we all know, don't we, that it's going to be the United States.' Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, suggested Britain offer to deploy troops to Greenland in a joint command with Denmark. 'If Trump is serious about security, he'd agree to participate and drop his outrageous threats,' Davey said. 'Tearing the NATO alliance apart would only play into the hands of Putin.' It's unclear how remaining NATO members would respond if the US decided to forcibly take control of the island or if they would come to Denmark's aid. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2026 07:48 AM IST | London | APUnited Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday (local time) urged Iranian authorities to "exercise maximum restraint" amid unrest in the country, stressing that the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly "must be fully respected" and "protected". The UN chief's remarks come amid protests in Iran that killed at least 420 protesters during anti-government demonstrations over the past 15 days, including eight children, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), CNN reported. In a post on X, the UN Secretary-General emphasised the need to refrain from the "unnecessary or disproportionate use of force" while handling public demonstrations. "Shocked by reports of violence & excessive use of force by the Iranian authorities against protesters resulting in deaths & injuries in recent days. The rights to freedom of expression, association & peaceful assembly must be fully respected & protected. I urge the Iranian authorities to exercise maximum restraint & refrain from unnecessary or disproportionate use of force," Guterres said in his post. Shocked by reports of violence & excessive use of force by the Iranian authorities against protesters resulting in deaths & injuries in recent days.The rights to freedom of expression, association & peaceful assembly must be fully respected & protected.I urge the Iranian… — António Guterres (@antonioguterres) January 11, 2026 "I also urge steps that enable access to information in the country, including restoring communications," the UN Secretary-General said. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that they are "closely monitoring" the unfolding situation in Iran, as protests demanding freedom continue to spread across the country. Netanyahu voiced strong support for the Iranian people's struggle against what he described as "tyranny". In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote, "Israel is closely monitoring the events unfolding in Iran. The protests for freedom have spread throughout the country. The people of Israel, and the entire world, stand in awe of the immense bravery of Iran's citizens." The protests began on December 28 as demonstrations against soaring inflation and economic hardship but soon escalated into tense nationwide unrest, marked by violent clashes between protesters and security forces. Demonstrations have spread across multiple cities, with authorities responding through arrests, crackdowns, and the use of force. Human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns over the scale of casualties and the treatment of protesters. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on "rioters" and foreign interference, while maintaining that legitimate economic grievances will be addressed. Amid the unrest, US officials told CNN that President Trump is weighing several military options in Iran following deadly protests, after warning Tehran against using lethal force on demonstrators. Iranian Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad said legal action against protesters would be strict. According to Tasnim news agency, he said proceedings would be carried out "without leniency, mercy or appeasement." "The charges against all rioters are the same," he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2026 07:17 AM IST | Geneva | ANIUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday (local time) said that Russia has been suffering losses of no less than 1,000 soldiers killed every day since December, asserting that the country is paying a heavy price "just to keep the war from ending". Calling the situation "madness," Zelenskyy urged the United States, Europe, and international partners to unite in stopping Russia, stressing that the ongoing conflict highlights the world's failure to protect itself from aggressive regimes. "Right now, Russian losses amount to no less than 1,000 killed per day - and this has been the case since December. This is how Russia is essentially paying just to keep the war from ending. This is madness and it can only be stopped by combined forces - the forces of Europe and the United States, the forces of all our partners," Zelenskyy said. "Every day of this war is a reminder that the world cannot protect itself from madmen. We must protect it. Russia must be stopped," he said. The Ukrainian President expressed gratitude to countries and partners supporting Ukraine militarily. "Thank you to everyone who stands with Ukraine! Thank you to everyone who helps our people, our defense, and our recovery! Glory to Ukraine!" he said. Right now, Russian losses amount to no less than 1,000 killed per day – and this has been the case since December. This is how Russia is essentially paying just to keep the war from ending. This is madness and it can only be stopped by combined forces – the forces of Europe and… pic.twitter.com/2SqRf8YiYQ — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 11, 2026 Earlier on Friday, Zelenskyy said that Russia carried out a massive overnight aerial assault on Ukraine, launching 242 drones, 13 ballistic missiles and 22 cruise missiles, killing at least four people and injuring dozens. In a post on X, Zelenskyy said the strikes heavily targeted Kyiv and several other regions in the country, damaging civilian infrastructure and energy facilities during a period of severe cold, as the war continues in Eastern Europe for the last four years. He confirmed that at least four people were killed in the capital alone, including a member of an ambulance crew. "In Kyiv and the region, the aftermath of the massive Russian strike is still being dealt with. All necessary services are deployed. Twenty residential buildings alone were damaged," Zelenskyy said, adding that recovery operations are ongoing in the Lviv region and other parts of the country. The Ukrainian President said dozens of people were injured in the attacks and noted that Russia carried out a second strike on a residential building precisely when first responders were providing assistance after the initial attack. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2026 07:06 AM IST | Kyiv | ANINationwide protests challenging Iran's theocracy saw protesters flood the streets in the country's capital and its second-largest city into Sunday, crossing the two-week mark as violence surrounding the demonstrations has killed at least 116 people, activists said. With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. But the death toll in the protests has grown, while 2,600 others have been detained, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Meanwhile, Iran's parliament speaker warned the US military and Israel would be "legitimate targets" if America strikes the Islamic Republic, as threatened by President Donald Trump. Qalibaf made the threat as lawmakers rushed the dais in the Iranian parliament, shouting: "Death to America!" Those abroad fear the information blackout will embolden hard-liners within Iran's security services to launch a bloody crackdown, despite warnings from Trump he's willing to strike the Islamic Republic to protect peaceful demonstrators. Trump offered support for the protesters, saying on social media that "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!" The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous US officials, said on Saturday night that Trump had been given military options for a strike on Iran, but hadn't made a final decision. The State Department separately warned: "Do not play games with President Trump. When he says he'll do something, he means it." Parliament rallies Iranian state television broadcast the parliament session live. Qalibaf, a hard-liner who has run for the presidency in the past, gave a speech applauding police and Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, particularly its all-volunteer Basij, for having "stood firm" during the protests. "The people of Iran should know that we will deal with them in the most severe way and punish those who are arrested," Qalibaf said. He went on to directly threaten Israel, "the occupied territory" as he referred to it, and the US military, possibly with a preemptive strike. "In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centres, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets," Qalibaf said. "We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat." It remains unclear just how serious Iran is about launching a strike, particularly after seeing its air defences destroyed during the 12-day war in June with Israel. Any decision to go to war would rest with Iran's 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The US military has said in the Mideast it is "postured with forces that span the full range of combat capability to defend our forces, our partners and allies and US interests." Protests in Tehran and Mashhad Online videos sent out of Iran, likely using Starlink satellite transmitters, purportedly showed demonstrators gathering in northern Tehran's Punak neighbourhood. There, it appeared authorities shut off streets, with protesters waving their lit mobile phones. Others banged metal while fireworks went off. Other footage purportedly showed demonstrators peacefully marching down a street and others honking their car horns on the street. In Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, some 725 kilometres northeast of Tehran, footage purported to show protesters confronting security forces. Flaming debris and dumpsters could be seen in the street, blocking the road. Mashhad is home to the Imam Reza shrine, the holiest in Shiite Islam, making the protests there carry heavy significance for the country's theocracy. Protests also appeared to happen in Kerman, 800 kilometres southeast of Tehran. Iranian state television on Sunday morning took a page from demonstrators, having their correspondents appear on streets in several cities to show calm areas with a date stamp shown on screen. Tehran and Mashhad were not included. They also showed pro-government demonstrations in Qom and Qazvin. Khamenei has signalled a coming clampdown, despite US warnings. Tehran escalated its threats Saturday, with Iran's attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, warning that anyone taking part in protests will be considered an "enemy of God," a death-penalty charge. The statement carried by Iranian state television said even those who "helped rioters" would face the charge. More demonstrations planned Sunday Iran's theocracy cut off the nation from the internet and international telephone calls on Thursday, though it allowed some state-owned and semiofficial media to publish. Qatar's state-funded Al Jazeera news network reported live from Iran, but they appeared to be the only major foreign outlet able to work. Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who called for protests Thursday and Friday, asked in his latest message for demonstrators to take to the streets Saturday and Sunday. He urged protesters to carry Iran's old lion-and-sun flag and other national symbols used during the time of the shah to "claim public spaces as your own." Pahlavi's support of and from Israel has drawn criticism in the past " particularly after the 12-day war. Demonstrators have shouted in support of the shah in some protests, but it isn't clear whether that's support for Pahlavi himself or a desire to return to a time before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The demonstrations began December 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to USD 1, as the country's economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran's theocracy. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 11:01 PM IST | Dubai | APIran's president says officials will listen to protesters, but rioters are trying to "destroy the entire society" as demonstrations sweep across the Islamic Republic. The comments from Masoud Pezeshkian represent a hardening tone from the reformist leader, who so far has been unable to assuage the public, as anger over the country's ailing economy exploded into a direct challenge to the nation's theocracy. "People have concerns, we should sit with them and if it is our duty, we should resolve their concerns," Pezeshkian said. "But the higher duty is not to allow a group of rioters to come and destroy the entire society." Iranian state television aired an interview with the president on Sunday. It had suggested it would be aired Saturday, but ended up not airing it. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 05:43 PM IST | Dubai | APProtests sweeping across Iran neared the two-week mark on Saturday, with the country’s government acknowledging the ongoing demonstrations despite an intensifying crackdown. United States President Donald Trump says Iran is in “big trouble” and again warned he could order military strikes as videos showed antigovernment protests raging across the country, and authorities blacked out the internet to restrain growing unrest. “Iran’s in big trouble. It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago,” Trump said on Friday. Trump, who bombed Iran in June and warned Tehran last week the US could come to the protesters’ aid, issued another warning, saying, “You better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting too.” “I just hope the protesters in Iran are going to be safe, because that’s a very dangerous place right now,” Trump added. With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. But the death toll in the protests has grown to at least 65 people killed and over 2,300 others detained, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 12:53 PM IST | Tehran | AgenciesAs US seizures of Venezuela-linked oil tankers surge, concerns grow in Cuba about whether the island’s government and economy will survive. Experts warn that a sudden halt in Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba could lead to widespread social unrest and mass migration following the stunning US military raid that resulted in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro. Long before the January 3 attack, severe blackouts were sidelining life in Cuba, where people endured long lines at gas stations and supermarkets amid the island’s worst economic crisis in decades. The lack of Venezuelan oil could push Cuba over the brink, experts say. “This will take an already dire situation to new extremes,” said Michael Galant, senior research and outreach associate at the Centre for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC. “This is what a collapsing economy looks like.” Galant said he believes that’s the goal of the Trump administration, “to cause such an indiscriminate suffering in the civilian population as to instigate some sort of uprising, regime change.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 12:51 PM IST | Havana | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
-1768194882579_d.png "Iran protest enters 15th day, with rising death toll and mass arrest. File Pic")
