Iran Protests: Iran State TV admits high death toll; Trump warns of ‘very strong action’ if Iran hangs protesters

Tehran’s top judicial official said some cases linked to ongoing protests have been sent to court on charges including what he described as moharebeh, a term under Iranian law that can carry the death penalty.

According to a report by Iran International, Ali Alghasimehr said the province’s judicial system was fully prepared to handle cases involving what he called terrorists and those detained in the protests.

"The Tehran provincial judiciary has full readiness to deal with these cases," he said, adding that special branches had been assigned to hear them.

He did not give details on the number of cases or those involved.

Exiled ex-Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi claimed on Tuesday that thousands of military and police personnel had not shown up for work to avoid taking part in the crackdown on protesters.

"Because of your steadfastness and resistance, thousands of military and police personnel have not shown up for work so they would not have to take part in the repression," Pahlavi said in a post on X.

He accused the authorities of trying to spread fear through killings, repression and internet shutdowns in an effort to make people abandon the movement.

"The regime is trying to create fear and terror among you," he said.

Pahlavi also called on internet and communications specialists to disrupt state systems to help restore public access.

"Target the regime's information infrastructure so that our compatriots' connection with the world can be restored again," he said.

Iran emerged from a communication blackout as citizens could call abroad on mobile phones on Tuesday for the first time since communications were halted during a crackdown on nationwide protests in which activists said at least 646 people have been killed.

According to the Associated Press report, the witnesses provided a brief glimpse into life on the streets of the Iranian capital during the four and a half days they were cut off from the world. They described seeing a heavy security presence in central Tehran.

Anti-riot police officers, wearing helmets and body armour, carried batons, shields, shotguns and tear gas launchers. They stood watch at major intersections. Nearby, the witnesses saw members of the Revolutionary Guard's all-volunteer Basij force, who similarly carried firearms and batons. Security officials in plainclothes were also visible in public spaces, the report added.

Several banks and government offices were burned during the unrest, they said. ATMs had been smashed, and banks struggled to complete transactions without the internet, the witnesses quoted in the report added.

Iran issued a warning to the US and said that it is aware of its enemies and is strong. The Iranian Embassy in India said that pro government gatherings in the country have foiled the enemies of foreign plans.

In a post on X, the embassy said, “In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Great Nation of Iran! Today, you have accomplished a great deed and created a historic day. Filled with determination and resolve, these grand gatherings have foiled the plan of foreign enemies, which was to be implemented by domestic mercenary soldiers.”

"The great nation of Iran has revealed itself, its resolve, and its identity before its enemies. This was a warning to American politicians to cease their deceptions and not to rely on treacherous mercenary killers. The Iranian nation is strong and powerful, aware of its enemies and discerning of them, and always present in the field. May God bestow His mercy upon you all," the post added.

Iran protests LIVE: Iranians were able to make international mobile phone calls on Tuesday for the first time since authorities cut communications amid a crackdown on nationwide protests that activists say left at least 646 people dead.

Several residents in Tehran managed to reach The Associated Press by phone and speak with a journalist. However, the AP bureau in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, could not return calls to those numbers. The witnesses said SMS text messaging remained unavailable, and while internet access had partially resumed, users could only reach government-approved websites within Iran, not those hosted abroad.

Their accounts offered a brief snapshot of daily life in Tehran after four and a half days of being cut off from the world. They reported a heavy security presence across central parts of the capital.

Anti-riot police, equipped with helmets and body armour, were stationed at major intersections, carrying batons, shields, shotguns and tear gas launchers. The witnesses also observed members of the Revolutionary Guard's all-volunteer Basij force nearby, similarly armed with firearms and batons. Plainclothes security personnel were also visible in public areas, AP reported.

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's regime has shut down the internet to be able to kill and oppress in silence," Finland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen wrote on X.

"This will not be tolerated. We stand with the people of Iran - women and men alike", she said, adding that she would "summon the Iranian ambassador this morning."

Valtonen also said the Nordic country was also "exploring measures to help restore freedom to the Iranian people" together with the EU.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that he believes that the Iranian regime under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “is living its last days,” AFP reported.

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, according to an AP report.

The nationwide shutdown of the internet by authorities in Iran, which activists fear is aimed at masking the scale of a crackdown on protests, has now lasted over 108 hours, a monitor said on Tuesday.

"It has been 108 hours since Iran introduced a nationwide internet shutdown leaving Iranians isolated from the rest of the world and each other," said Netblocks in a post on X in its latest update.

US Representative Yassamin Ansari said Iran’s authorities are cutting internet access and phone lines as they commit “mass atrocities” against Iranians, seeking to conceal abuses.

“As the Islamic Republic commits mass atrocities against the Iranian people, it is cutting internet access and phone lines to hide its crimes,” said the representative for Arizona’s third congressional district.

She urged Washington to “act now” to assess direct-to-cell connectivity and use funding authorized in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act to expand internet access in Iran.

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.

India exported USD 468.10 worth of basmati rice to Iran during April-November of 2025-26 fiscal, totalling 5.99 lakh tonnes, trade data showed.

(PTI)

Iran protests LIVE: Deutsche Lufthansa AG has reportedly pushed back its planned resumption of flights to Tehran, citing ongoing deadly protests across the country and travel warnings issued by the German government.

The airline decided on Monday afternoon to suspend flights to Tehran until and including January 28 due to the evolving situation, a spokesperson said in written comments, reported Bloomberg.

Lufthansa had earlier planned to restart services on Friday, following an interruption of around seven months.

China has stated that it will 'safeguard' its interests following US President Donald Trump's tariff threat regarding Iran, according to AFP.

Silver futures soared to yet another record of ₹2,72,202 per kg on Tuesday, tracking firm global trends, as uncertainties surrounding the US Federal Reserve's policy stance and escalating tensions in Iran spurred demand for safe havens.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), silver futures for March delivery jumped by ₹3,232, or 1.2 per cent, to hit a new record of ₹2,72,202 per kilogram.

In the last two trading sessions, the white metal prices have skyrocketed by ₹19,477, or 7.7 per cent, from ₹2,52,725 per kg on Friday.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG delayed its plan to resume flights to Iran’s capital this week amid deadly protests around the country and German government travel warnings.

Lufthansa decided on Monday afternoon to suspend flights to Tehran until and including January 28, because of the evolving situation, a spokesperson said in written comments. The airline had initially planned to restore services on Friday after a seven-month interruption.

Europe’s largest airline group — which includes Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Swiss — would have been among the few carriers offering direct flights to Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport. Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines have flights listed on their websites.

Austrian, which had been flying to Iran until suspending service last week, will halt flights until Jan. 21, a spokesperson said.

The change of plans comes as the Islamic Republic is gripped by nationwide anti-government protests that erupted two weeks ago. More than 540 people have been killed and more than 10,000 arrested, according to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency.

Mobile phones in Iran were able to call abroad on Tuesday after a crackdown on nationwide protests in which the internet and international calls were cut.

Several people in Tehran were able to make the calls, Associated Press reported, adding that its bureau in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was unable to call those numbers back.

Witnesses said the internet remained cut off from the outside world.

Iran cut off the internet and calls on Thursday as protests intensified.

Iran, a member of the OPEC oil producers group, exported products to 147 trading partners in 2022, according to the most recent data from the World Bank.

Its top trade partners include China, other countries in East Asia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Germany.

Fuel is Iran's biggest export item by value, while major imports include intermediate goods, vegetables, machinery and equipment.

CHINA

China is Iran's largest trading partner. Iranian exports to China amounted to $22 billion in 2022, with fuels accounting for more than half of the total, according to the World Bank. Imports from China stood at $15 billion.

In 2025, China bought more than 80% of Iran's shipped oil, according to data from Kpler, an analytics firm. Iranian oil has a limited pool of buyers because of U.S. sanctions that seek to cut off funding to Tehran's nuclear programme.

INDIA

India's total bilateral trade with Iran stood at $1.34 billion for the first 10 months of 2025, according to the Indian Commerce Ministry. Major Indian exports to Iran include basmati rice, fruits, vegetables, drugs and other pharmaceutical products.

TURKEY

Iran's exports to Turkey reached $5.8 billion in 2022, with imports totalling $6.1 billion, according to the World Bank.

GERMANY

Iran's exports to Germany totalled $178 million in 2022, while imports reached $1.9 billion.

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea's exports to Iran between January and November 2025 were minimal at $129 million, while imports totalled $1.6 million during the same period, according to data from the Korea International Trade Association.

JAPAN

Japan imported modest amounts of fruit, vegetables, and textiles from Iran and shipped some machinery and vehicle engines there, according to the latest trade data from Japan, which covers the period through November 2025.

The political developments matter for oil markets as Iran is a major sanctioned producer, and any escalation could disrupt supply or add a geopolitical risk premium.

"Unrest in Iran has added about $3-4/barrel in geopolitical risk premium in oil prices, in our view," Barclays said in a note.

Oil prices extended gains on Tuesday as heightened concerns surrounding Iran and potential supply disruptions outweighed the prospect of increased crude supply from Venezuela.

Brent futures rose 22 cents, or 0.3%, to $64.09 a barrel by 0430 GMT, hovering near a two-month high struck in the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 23 cents, or 0.4%, to $59.73.

Non-essential French embassy staff have left Iran, two sources with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Monday, as the Islamic Republic’s authorities cracked down on protests in the country.

The personnel left on Sunday and Monday, the sources added, without saying how many people had departed.

“The embassy’s structure has been reconfigured to allow it to handle its duties in the local context,” the French Foreign Ministry told AFP, adding: “The protection of our personnel and our citizens is a priority.”

Iran protests LIVE: Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said on Monday the Islamic republic is ready for war and talks as well after repeated threats from US President Donald Trump to step in militarily over a crackdown on protests that activists fear has killed hundreds.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is not seeking war but is fully prepared for war," AFP news agency quoted foreign minister Abbas Araghchi telling a conference of foreign ambassadors in Tehran broadcast by state television.

"We are also ready for negotiations but these negotiations should be fair, with equal rights and based on mutual respect," Araghchi said.

The rupee weakened by 5 paise to 90.22 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday, amid a strengthening American currency, higher crude oil prices and incessant outflow of foreign funds.

Unprecedented geopolitical concerns and global trade uncertainties have accelerated dollar demand worldwide, adding strength to the greenback and putting pressure on the Indian currency, analysts quoted by PTI said, alluding to the Iranian protests.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 90.24 and gained slightly to trade at 90.22 against the US dollar in early deals, registering a 5-paise loss from its previous closing level.

China said late on Monday that it opposed "any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction" after U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media that nations doing business with Iran will face a 25% tariff on U.S. trade.

"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," a spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in Washington said on X.

"China firmly opposes any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, and will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests."

Alongside pre-revolutionary Iranian flags, Israeli and US flags were also visible at the London demonstration.
According to a Sky News report, one protester said he supported Israel and the United States for opposing Iran’s leadership. Another demonstrator said members of his family had been imprisoned and a friend killed, adding that many Iranians rejected the current political system and wanted fundamental change.

US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a 25 per cent tariff on any country doing business with Iran, ramping up pressure on Tehran amid nationwide stir and crackdown.

Trump, who has repeatedly threatened Iran with military intervention, said in a social media post on Monday that the new levies would "immediately" hit the Islamic Republic's trading partners, who also do business with the United States.

"This Order is final and conclusive," he wrote, without specifying who they will affect.