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Bloomberg reported that Elon Musk’s SpaceX has raised the prospect of providing Starlink satellite internet service free of charge in Iran while the nationwide connectivity blackout continues. The move, if operationalized at scale, would aim to bypass state-controlled networks and restore a communications lifeline—though access would still depend on the availability of Starlink terminals inside the country.
Yassamin Ansari, an Iranian-American member of the U.S. Congress, wrote on Instagram that “millions” across Iran have courageously risen and are demanding an end to what she called the Islamic Republic’s “barbaric” rule. Ansari added that she is leading a unified, bipartisan effort in Congress to condemn the regime’s repression and violence and to stand with Iranians in their fight for freedom and democracy.
Jason Rezaian, the Iranian-American journalist and former Evin detainee, wrote that the surge in nationwide protests has—for the first time since he left Iran in 2016—made him hopeful he might someday return. Reflecting on his release in a prisoner swap around the 2015 nuclear deal implementation and years of reporting inside Iran, Rezaian said those experiences left him with a clear view of what he described as the regime’s “toxic, broken” relationship with society. He called the current protests both inspiring and painful, warned the death toll could rise, and argued that communications blackouts have been the most effective tool of repression—making the urgent priority for the international community to restore Iranians’ internet access, a challenge he noted has persisted since 2009. Rezaian also criticized “maximum pressure” for shifting the greatest costs onto ordinary people, while warning that delaying preparation for a post–Islamic Republic period is also a mistake.
U.S. President Donald Trump told Iranian protesters to “keep protesting,” warning that those he called the “killers” of demonstrators in Iran will “pay a heavy price.” Trump also claimed Iranian authorities are trying to conceal the true death toll from the crackdown, and reiterated that “help is on the way” and that “we will make Iran great again,” adding: “Iran was a great country until these monsters came and took it over.”
Human-rights sources warned that the execution of Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old protester detained during Iran’s national uprising, could be carried out imminently. Soltani’s family says authorities told them the verdict has been finalized and will be implemented as scheduled, while Hengaw reported—citing the family—that the sentence is definitive. Iran Human Rights also said the family was informed Soltani has been sentenced to death and that the execution is planned for Wednesday, and IranWire reported he was arrested on the night of Thursday, 18 Dey 1404 (January 8, 2026), near his home in Fardis, Karaj.
Mehdi Parpanchi, Iran International’s executive editor, said the outlet’s reporting that at least 12,000 Iranians were killed by IRGC and Basij forces is “not an estimate,” but based on a specific report produced by the IRGC Intelligence Organization and submitted to Iran’s Presidential Office and the Supreme National Security Council—an assertion that, if accurate, would imply the figure originates from internal security assessments rather than external tallies.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the national security team held a meeting Tuesday morning, January 13, 2026 (23 Dey 1404), to review response options related to Iran’s protests, but President Donald Trump did not attend. Leavitt characterized it as a routine briefing, as the administration continues weighing next steps amid escalating tensions.
U.S. Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin told Iran International that President Donald Trump “is not someone who bluffs,” but emphasized that any action would come on Trump’s timeline and “when we are ready.” The comments reinforce Republican messaging that signals resolve while leaving the scope and timing of any U.S. steps deliberately open amid fast-moving developments around Iran.
U.S. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal told Iran International that any military action involving Iran should be approached with extreme caution, warning it could be counterproductive and end up strengthening the Islamic Republic rather than weakening it. His remarks highlight a clear split in U.S. political messaging as some Republican voices push for escalatory measures while others stress the risks of unintended consequences.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government will bring forward legislation to implement “full and further sanctions” and sectoral measures against the Islamic Republic, targeting finance, energy, transport, software and other key industries. Cooper also said the Iranian ambassador was summoned as London condemned what she described as a “horrendous and brutal” crackdown on protesters and reiterated that the UK is working “tirelessly” to safeguard British citizens.
Fars News Agency, affiliated with Iran’s IRGC, reported that Tractor Tabriz’s failure to travel for its Iranian Cup round-of-16 match against Shams Azar in Qazvin—and the subsequent cancellation—followed a warning from the Croatian embassy to head coach Dragan Skočić not to leave his accommodation in Tabriz due to conditions in Iran. Fars further claimed the country has “returned to calm” and argued the security concerns were unfounded, citing another match played the same day with foreign players present; Tractor, meanwhile, reportedly fields Skočić alongside four Croatian players and three Croatian coaches on its roster and staff.
The U.S. Senate Republicans’ official X account reposted President Donald Trump’s message to “Iranian patriots”—“keep protesting, help is on the way”—alongside an image of Trump with U.S. fighter jets. The post signals Republican leadership messaging aligned with Trump’s pledge to back Iran’s protest movement as the crackdown and international fallout continue.