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The Washington Post reported that on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 , as expectations of imminent U.S. strikes rose, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a text message to White House envoy Steve Witkoff —relayed to President Donald Trump —saying Tehran was prepared to stop the killing and cancel the planned executions of about 800 detained protesters , according to officials familiar with the exchange.
Received footage described as CCTV imagery from Tehran shows what appears to be security-linked plainclothes forces attacking people who had taken refuge inside a building, using batons and weapons, while one citizen is seen attempting to block their entry. The video description says the on-screen monitor timestamp reads Wednesday, January 7 at 1:40 a.m. , and alleges the attackers used knives and machetes during the assault; the identities of those involved and the full context cannot be independently verified from the clip alone.
A received video described as “various scenes from the Thursday, 18 Dey and Friday, 19 Dey protests in Mashhad” shows different moments from demonstrations in the city during Iran’s national uprising. The clip is being circulated as part of the growing volume of visual evidence from the crackdown period, though the exact locations, identities, and specific timing within those dates cannot be independently verified from the footage alone.
U.S. President Donald Trump told POLITICO it is “time to look for new leadership in Iran,” blaming Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for what he called the country’s “complete destruction” and unprecedented levels of violence. Trump argued that leadership should focus on running the country rather than “killing thousands” to maintain control, and described Khamenei as a “sick man” who should stop the bloodshed.
A user-shared video reports a fire at the Ayandeh Bank building on Khomeini St., Tehran (Khosh intersection) , geotagged near 35.6873, 51.3736 . The footage description indicates an active blaze at the site; the cause, damage, and any casualties are not confirmed from the clip alone.
A video circulating with the caption “Mashhad, 18 Dey (January 8)” appears to show a protester being shot during Iran’s national uprising, while people nearby repeatedly shout, “Take a deep breath! Take a deep breath!” The footage is being shared as another snapshot of the violence reported during the crackdown, though the exact circumstances and identity of the injured person have not been independently verified.
Tehran Prosecutor Ali Salehi rejected Donald Trump’s claim that Iran had halted executions of detained protesters, saying Trump “often talks nonsense” and that the judiciary’s response will be “firm, deterrent, and swift.” Salehi added that a large number of cases have already resulted in indictments and have been referred to court.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said “several thousand” people were killed during the recent nationwide protests, while blaming the violence on actors “linked to the U.S. and Israel” and accusing President Donald Trump of inciting unrest. The comments come after Trump warned of “very strong action” if detainees were executed, then publicly thanked Tehran for calling off mass hangings—an assertion Iranian officials disputed, saying there was “no plan to hang people”; Trump separately claimed Iran had canceled the execution of “over 800” people. The admission of a “several thousand” death toll marks a notable escalation in official rhetoric after earlier messaging that blamed “terrorists” and offered lower or less specific casualty figures.
NetBlocks monitoring data show a very slight increase in internet connectivity in Iran in the early hours of Saturday, January 17, 2026 (27 Dey) —more than 200 hours after the start of a broad nationwide blackout. Despite the marginal uptick, overall access remains around 2% of normal levels , with no sign of a meaningful restoration; analysts say the limited improvement appears confined to select state-linked infrastructure and specific networks rather than broad public access.
Prince Reza Pahlavi wrote on X that “nothing in Iran is normal” as long as Ali Khamenei and the ruling structure remain in place and those responsible for the crackdown are not held accountable. He urged people to amplify their protest with “national slogans,” adding that the international community is watching the demonstrations.
Iranians in Cologne, Germany, held a rally on Saturday, January 17 (27 Dey) in support of Iran’s national uprising, voicing solidarity with protesters inside the country and expressing support for Prince Reza Pahlavi.
A group of Iranians in Padua, Italy, held a solidarity gathering to support compatriots inside Iran, carrying placards referencing claims that at least 12,000 Iranians have been killed. Participants also displayed photos of some of those reported killed during the national uprising.