Here's the latest
• US President Donald Trump has canceled meetings with Iranian officials and told protesters “help is on its way” amid a brutal crackdown by Tehran. At least 1,850 protesters have now been killed in more than two weeks of demonstrations, according to a US-based rights group.
• Trump is set to meet with his senior national security team today to discuss his options in Iran after yesterday announcing that countries that do business with Iran will face a 25% tariff. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he believes the Iranian regime could be facing its “last days and weeks.”
• Some users of landline and mobile phones in Iran have been able to call abroad for the first time more than four days after the government shut down communications. But internet access remains cut off.
Iran’s internet blackout hits 5-day mark
Iran has been under a near-total internet blackout for five days, according to cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks, as authorities crack down on anti-government protesters.
Earlier today, telephone communications appeared to have been partially restored, with some landline and mobile phone users able to call abroad for the first time since the blackout began last week.
Alp Toker, director of NetBlocks, told CNN earlier in the week: “National blackouts tend to be the regime’s go-to strategy when deadly force is about to get used against protesters, with the goal being to prevent the spread of news of what’s happening on ground, and also to limit international scrutiny.”
At least 1,850 protesters have been killed, according to estimates from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
Several European countries summon Iranian ambassadors as Tehran brutally cracks down on protesters
A number of European nations have summoned Iranian ambassadors and are condemning Tehran’s violent clampdown on protesters.
Here’s what the countries are saying:
- Germany’s foreign ministry posted on X: “The brutal actions of the Iranian regime against its own people are shocking. We urge #Iran to end the violence against its own citizens and to respect their rights. The Iranian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office today.”
- Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Noël Barrot posted his remarks to the French Parliament on the matter on X: ”I have summoned the ambassador of Iran to Paris today. There cannot be impunity for those who turn their arms against peaceful protesters”
- Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prevot posted on X: “The situation in Iran must concern us to the highest degree. That is why I had the Iranian ambassador to Belgium summoned today to firmly condemn all the violence committed by the regime, the arbitrary detentions, the intimidation, the Internet shutdown, all aimed at repressing a peaceful movement, a movement calling for democracy, the legitimate aspiration of Iranian women and men for a better life. I continue to follow the evolution of the situation with my European colleagues. Belgium is prepared to discuss new European sanctions.”
- Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also said that he has summoned the Iranian ambassador over the “absolutely unacceptable” crackdown on demonstrators, according to Reuters. “These days, men and women across Iran are fighting in the streets and squares, paying a very high price,” Tajani told the country’s lower house of parliament.
CNN’s Mohammed Tawfeeq, Catherine Nicholls and Inke Kappeler contributed to this report.
UK to work toward bringing more sanctions against Iran
The United Kingdom will work towards carrying out more sanctions against Iran, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said today, in response to what she called the “most brutal and bloody repression against public protest in Iran for at least thirteen years.”
The UK’s minister for the Middle East has summoned the Iranian ambassador to “underline the gravity of this moment and to call on Iran to answer for the horrific reports that we are hearing,” she said.
London will also “bring forward legislation to implement full and further sanctions and sectoral measures” against Iran, which will target its finance, energy, transport and software sectors, and others “which are advancing Iranian nuclear escalation,” she said.
What Iranian protesters are chanting
Iran’s largest protests in three years are calling for new leadership and substantive change in the country.
But some of the chants we’re hearing now differ from the “Women, Life, Freedom” rallying cries of 2022, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, the young woman arrested by Iran’s morality police.
CNN’s Clarissa Ward breaks it down here:
Protests continue across Iran despite a brutal crackdown that includes threats to execute demonstrators and a climbing death toll. CNN's Clarissa Ward breaks down some of the protest chants we have been hearing.
The latest protester death toll estimate in Iran is much higher than in previous rounds of unrest
We’ve recently received an updated death toll estimate from a US-based human rights group, which says more than 1,800 protesters have been killed during just over two weeks of anti-government demonstrations in Iran.
To put that estimate into context, these are the estimated deaths from other times of unrest:
- During 2009’s monthslong protests over contested election results as part of the country’s Green Movement, activists said 72 people were killed — an estimate more than double the government’s official tally.
- In 2019, another major wave of protests erupted across Iran after the government announced fuel price increases, leaving many dead. Estimates of the death toll varied widely, from more than 300, according to the UN, to as many as 1,500, according to a Reuters investigation.
- In 2022, further protests erupted across the country after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was detained by the country’s morality police for allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress code. Iranian security forces killed more than 500 people during the protests, according to a subsequent United Nations investigation.
These are the countries that could be most affected by additional US tariffs on Iran
As we reported earlier, US President Donald Trump announced that countries doing business with Iran will face a new 25% tariff.
He did not define what qualifies as “doing business” with Iran and the post raised a number of questions, including how these additional tariffs could work, which countries would be targeted and whether services and not just goods would face higher duties.
China is Iran’s biggest trade partner, purchasing more than $4 billion worth of products in 2023, according to The Observatory of Economic Complexity.
The US currently has a minimum 20% tariff on goods from China, following a trade war last year which saw Chinese imports attract a minimum tariff of 145% at its peak. The country could now face levies starting at 45%.
Iran exports goods to more than 120 countries around the world, 91% of which go to Asia. European countries account for 8% of exports, with the rest of the world making up the remaining 1%.
UN human rights experts condemn Iran for using “lethal force” against protesters
Experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council are urging Iran to refrain from using lethal force against demonstrators, following what it describes as “clear violations” of human rights law.
Responding to reports of death sentences being issued against protesters, the experts said, “If implemented, this compounds the reported unlawful killings of protesters by security forces on the streets with state-sanctioned executions.”
The working group also raised concerns over the rhetoric being used to label demonstrators, like “rioters,” and said that inflammatory language should not be used to “suppress or criminalize legitimate demonstrations.”
According to the UN Human Rights Council, the experts are in contact with Iranian authorities and “call for immediate action to prevent further human rights violations.”
Earlier, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said Iranian officials’ threats to punish protesters with the death penalty, were “extremely worrying.”
On Friday, Tehran’s prosecutor Ali Salehi said some protesters in Iran could face the death penalty for their actions, according to the semi-official news agency Tasnim.
CNN’s Billy Stockwell and Jomana Karadsheh contributed to this report.
Trump says all meetings with Iran are off until crackdown on protesters ends
President Donald Trump said today he’s canceled any meetings with Iranian officials as a crackdown on protesters continues, suggesting the window of diplomacy that he saw opening days ago had closed.
In a message on Truth Social, Trump encouraged protesters to keep up the demonstrations, and said “help is on the way.”
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” Trump wrote.
“Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price,” he went on. “I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
He ended by writing “MIGA,” or Make Iran Great Again.
On Sunday, Trump suggested he was open to talks with the Iranian regime after receiving communication over the weekend. He said a meeting was being set up.
But his message two days later indicated he no longer believes talks would be fruitful.
Protester death toll in Iran climbs to 1,850, US-based rights group says
At least 1,850 protesters have been killed in more than two weeks of anti-government demonstrations in Iran, according to US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
This is a significant increase from the group’s previous toll of around 500. HRANA also said at least 16,784 had been arrested.
It remains unclear whether HRANA’s tally fully captures the scale of casualties and arrests, given the authorities’ shutdown of internet access and telephone lines.
CNN is unable to independently verify HRANA’s death toll or arrest figures.
Trump to meet with national security team to discuss options in Iran
When President Donald Trump meets with his senior national security team later Tuesday to discuss his options in Iran, he’ll face a complex set of decisions for how to proceed – all balanced by an equally complex set of risks.
Trump must first decide whether to allow diplomacy time to proceed after his foreign envoy, Steve Witkoff, received conciliatory messages from Iran’s foreign minister over the weekend.
Some senior officials interpreted the outreach as a sign the regime was ready to talk and have encouraged the president to seize the opportunity to strike a deal (the contours of which remain unclear).
Other officials have been less sanguine, believing Tehran is simply looking to delay an attack, which Trump has been threatening for more than two weeks.
Trump has said he won’t necessarily wait for talks with Iran before moving ahead. If he decides to go that course, he will have to consider another set of decisions.
Should Trump decide on firing a missile into Iran, he will have to decide which targets to strike – remaining elements of Iran’s nuclear program, government buildings in Tehran or other facilities connected to the country’s security services. Any strike would likely be several days from happening, one official said.
If Trump elects to carry out something short of a strike, he has another set of options in front of him: cyberattacks, new sanctions or efforts to bolster internet connectivity.
Each cascading decision will be weighed against potential responses from Iran. US officials believe any strikes inside Iran could lead to retaliatory action on American facilities in the region, an outcome Iranian officials have already threatened. Officials have also voiced concern that a forceful response could strengthen support for the regime in a “rally behind the flag” effect.
It’s less clear how Iran might respond to lesser actions. And not taking any action at all could make Trump’s threats appear empty, officials said.
Pro-regime demonstrators point to “foreign interventions” behind unrest
Pro-regime demonstrators in the Iranian capital Tehran have acknowledged the economic plight gripping the country but backed authorities’ line that “foreign interventions” have amplified the unrest.
Protests over the government’s handling of the economy began more than two weeks ago in Tehran’s bazaars but spread to more than 180 cities and towns, morphing into general protests against the regime. In response, counter-rallies in support of the government took place across Iran on Monday.
Another pro-regime protester acknowledged that Iran was facing “excessive inflation,” but added: “All that said, I am here, participating, to defend my country.”
Iranian authorities have sought to differentiate between economic protesters and those calling for regime change, branding the latter as “rioters” and foreign-backed “mercenaries.”
A third pro-regime protester said, “the first step is to speak with determination about possible foreign interventions.”
Here's what Trump has said so far about the protests in Iran
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly issued warnings to Iranian leadership over the last few weeks, threatening that his country could intervene if authorities continue their violence against protesters.
Here’s a look at some of the exchanges between Trump and Iranian leadership since the start of this year:
- January 2: After several days of protests in Iran, and after a number of people have been killed in clashes, Trump warns that the US will intervene if protesters continue to be killed. Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani tells Trump on X that US interference would cause “disruption across the entire region and the destruction of American interests.”
- January 4: Trump again warns that if Iranian authorities “start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States.” Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says that his country “will not yield to the enemy” and that rioters should be “put in their place.”
- January 8: Trump repeats his claim that the US will “hit” Iran “very hard” should violence against protesters continue, telling radio host Hugh Hewitt: “I have let them know that if they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots … we’re going to hit them very hard.”
- January 9: Trump posts a video on social media claiming that the Iranian regime has lost control of its second largest city, without evidence of this actually happening. Khamenei calls on Trump to “focus on the problems of his own country” in a televised address. “There are some agitators who want to please the American president by destroying public property. A united Iranian people will defeat all enemies,” Khamenei says.
- January 10: Trump says that the US is “ready to help” the Iranian people in a post on Truth Social. “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” he writes.
- January 11: Iran’s parliamentary speaker warns that authorities will treat US military and commercial bases as targets for retaliation if it intervenes militarily in Iranian affairs. Trump says that “Iran called to negotiate” with the US the day prior.
- January 12: Khamenei’s official X account posts a cartoon depicting Trump as a crumbling sarcophagus, with a message saying “this one too will be overthrown.” Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that his country is ready to negotiate with the US based on “mutual respect and interests.” Later in the day, Trump announces a 25% tariff on countries that do business with Iran.
CNN’s Mostafa Salem, Tim Lister, Billy Stockwell, Nadeen Ebrahim, Kit Maher, Chris Lau, Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Helen Regan, Banafsheh Keynoush and Elisabeth Buchwald contributed to this reporting.
Dutch foreign minister summons Iranian ambassador to the Hague
The Dutch foreign minister has summoned Iran’s ambassador to protest Iran’s brutal crackdown of anti-government protests, the first European government to announce such a move.
“I have summoned the Iranian ambassador to formally protest the excessive violence against peaceful protesters, large-scale arbitrary arrests and internet shutdowns,” David van Weel said on Tuesday in a statement posted on X.
Van Weel called on Tehran to “respect fundamental rights and immediately restore internet access,” after Iranians have been cut off for at least 108 hours, according to internet-monitoring group NetBlocks.
Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and France yesterday to protest their governments’ public support for the protests, according to an Iranian state broadcaster.
At least 500 demonstrators, including nine minors, have been killed and more than 10,000 have been arrested since the protests began in late December, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. CNN cannot independently verify those figures. Iranian state-affiliated media say more than 100 members of the security forces have been killed.
CNN’s Mohammed Tawfeeq and Hira Humayun contributed to this report
Iranian foreign minister criticizes Germany's Merz after he suggested regime could collapse
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called on the German government to “have some shame” after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the Iranian regime could be facing its “last days and weeks.”
Merz earlier criticized the Iranian government, saying that “when a regime can only stay in power through violence then it has de facto reached the end.”
Araghchi said Berlin should “end its unlawful interference in our region,” while condemning Merz’ support for Israel during its war in Gaza following Hamas’ deadly October 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel.
Some calls going through and reduced protest activity in Tehran. Here's the latest
After a communications blackout lasted for more than four days, we are slowly beginning to hear more from those on the ground in Iran.
Here are some of the key developments in the last 24 hours:
- US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran “effective immediately.” China is one of Iran’s major trading partners, as is India, which is already reeling from existing US levies.
- China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters in that “there are no winners in a tariff war,” adding that the country “will firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
- Some people inside Iran have been able to use their phones to call abroad for the first time in days amid a nationwide communications blackout on the country. Internet access remains cut off.
- Because of this, we’ve been able to get more information on what’s going on from people inside the country. Two residents CNN spoke to today said that demonstrations in Tehran appear to have quietened down, at least for now.
- Meanwhile, fresh footage from protests across the country last night shows crowds chanting in the streets. One video shows Melli Bank, one of Iran’s largest state-owned banks, burned and blackened from the protests.
CNN’s Elisabeth Buchwald, Rhea Mogul, Helen Regan, Billy Stockwell and Zahid Mahmood contributed to this reporting.
Iran "ready" should the US want to "test" military action, foreign minister says
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the Islamic Republic is “ready” should the US want to “test military action” against the country.
US President Donald Trump is weighing a series of potential military options in Iran following deadly protests in the country, two US officials told CNN, as the US president considers following through on his recent threats to strike the Iranian regime should it use lethal force against civilians during recent protests.
Araghchi also said in the interview that “January 8 should be considered an extension of the 12-day war” with Israel, explaining much of the lethal crackdown employed by the regime against protesters, many of whom are accused of collaborating with Israel.
Araghchi said Iran is, however, willing to engage in diplomatic talks, and that Tehran hopes Washington will choose a “wise option.” Trump had said that Iran called him on Saturday to negotiate.
Iran's death penalty threat for protesters "extremely worrying," UN human rights chief says
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has described as “extremely worrying” statements from Iranian officials that protesters could face the death penalty.
On Friday, Tehran’s prosecutor Ali Salehi said that some protesters in Iran could face the death penalty for their actions, according to the semi-official news agency Tasnim.
Turk cited reports that several hospitals in Iran were “overwhelmed” by the number of casualties, including children, amid the anti-regime protests across the country.
As with Iranian protests in 2022, Türk said the reaction from Iran’s authorities has been to “inflict brutal force to repress legitimate demands for change.”
The UN human rights chief urged the Iranian authorities to “halt immediately all forms of violence and repression” and called for accountability for “serious violations.”
Footage released by pro-activist group shows protests across Iran as anti-government anger builds
As protests stretched into Monday night across multiple Iranian cities, this footage shows crowds chanting in the streets — and by morning, images of a burned-out bank were a visual reminder of anger at the government and the country’s economic crisis.
Video from the central city of Karaj released overnight by pro-reform activist outlet IranWire appears to show demonstrators marching and chanting, “by the end of the week Seyyed Ali is gone!” This is a reference to the full name of the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
In Ahvaz, southwestern Iran, multiple videos show crowds marching, clapping and chanting pro-reform slogans, including “this is the last battle – Pahlavi is coming back” and “this is the year of blood Seyyed Ali will be overthrown.”
In Tehran a separate video shows a group chanting anti-government slogans, fire was also seen around the demonstrators.
By morning, more footage from the capital shows Melli Bank, one of Iran’s largest state-owned banks, burned and blackened from the protests.
Protest activity in Tehran appears to have reduced, residents tell CNN
As some landline and mobile calls from inside Iran appear to be working, we’re now getting fresh details about the state of protests in the capital city Tehran.
Demonstrations in Tehran appear to have quietened down, at least for now, with less protest activity on Monday than on previous nights, according to two residents who spoke to CNN on Tuesday.
The situation in other cities across the country is less clear amid the ongoing internet shutdown. Cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks said Tuesday that Iranians have been without internet access now for more than 108 hours.
Over the past few days, ordinary life in Tehran has continued, the residents said, adding that “intense” protest activity has mostly played out at night.
Just outside Tehran, a morgue overflowing with more body bags than answers
Video of bodies lining the streets outside the Kahrizak Forensic Medical Center earlier this week has emerged despite Iran’s internet blackout, providing a vivid view of the protests’ rapidly rising death toll. CNN’s Jomana Karadsheh reports.
Video making its way past Iran’s internet blackout reveals harrowing scenes from earlier in the week at the Kahrizak Forensic Medical Center south of Tehran. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh reports.
