2026/01/10Araghchi in Lebanon: “Iran Is Fine” — Calls Protests ‘Normal’ but Blames “Riot Elements”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking in Lebanon in an interview with Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar, said Iran’s overall situation is “good,” while acknowledging problems he attributed to sanctions and economic weaknesses. On the ongoing protests, he described “some protests” as a natural feature of a system based on popular sovereignty and democracy—where people can voice demands—claiming this is what is happening. At the same time, he alleged that alongside “ordinary people,” there are “elements” engaging in unrest, attacking public places, and setting fires, arguing this should be treated carefully. Araghchi also claimed Israeli officials themselves have said—via tweets and interviews—that Mossad agents are present in Tehran and playing a role in the protests.
2026/01/10UN Rights Chief: Investigate Protest Deaths, Restore Internet
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said he is “deeply disturbed” by reports of violence during Iran’s nationwide protests in recent days, including reported deaths and property destruction. He stressed that the right to peaceful protest must be protected, urged that all deaths be investigated promptly, independently, and transparently, and called for accountability for any human-rights violations in line with international standards. Türk also voiced concern over reports of a nationwide internet and communications shutdown, warning that such measures undermine freedom of expression and access to information, hinder documentation of abuses, and can disrupt access to essential and emergency services.
2026/01/10SCMP: Iran Protests Push Toward a “Social Revolution”
The South China Morning Post reports that Iran’s nationwide protests—initially driven by a surge in living costs and the rial’s slide—have, for the first time since the 1979 revolution, brought together an unusually broad cross-section of society and pushed the Islamic Republic toward a stark choice between radical reform and collapse. With Prince Reza Pahlavi’s calls feeding expectations of change at the top, the movement is increasingly framed not as a single-issue economic revolt but as a potential turning point for the system itself.
2026/01/10Renzi: Iran’s Youth Are “Making History” in Tehran and Beyond
Italian Senator and former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi wrote on X that Iran is “unfortunately not making headlines like Gaza or Venezuela,” but said there are “brave and extraordinary young people” in Tehran and other Iranian cities who are “making history,” adding another high-profile European political voice to the growing international spotlight on Iran’s nationwide protests.
2026/01/10Netanyahu: Iran May Be at a “Destiny Moment” — No Israeli Intervention
In an interview with The Economist , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this “may be a moment where the people of Iran take charge of their own destiny,” adding that revolutions work best when they come “from within.” He stressed Israel does not intend to intervene in Iran’s internal developments, while arguing the Islamic Republic has poured “billions and billions” into proxies and the “terror axis” yet failed to meet its own people’s needs. On the question of a potential strike, Netanyahu said that if Iran attacks Israel—“which it might”—the consequences for Iran would be “terrible,” but otherwise the focus should be on watching what unfolds inside Iran.
2026/01/10Brussels Protest Targets Iranian Embassy on Day 14
Iranians living in Brussels held a demonstration on Day 14 of Iran’s “national revolution,” gathering outside the Islamic Republic’s embassy to show solidarity with protesters inside the country. The rally adds to a growing pattern of embassy-focused diaspora actions across Europe, aimed at amplifying visibility, sustaining international attention, and increasing political pressure as the crackdown and communications restrictions continue.
2026/01/10Germany’s Parliament Chief: “Iran Deserves Support”
Julia Klöckner, President of Germany’s parliament, said Iranians are fighting for their natural and fundamental rights, while the authorities respond by killing people and restricting internet access. She stressed the state should protect its citizens—not execute them—and argued the Iranian people deserve international backing.
2026/01/10Ex-World Champion: Internet Blackouts Hide Violence
Former taekwondo world champion Farzan Ashourzadeh said Iran’s nationwide internet shutdown is a warning sign, arguing that “history shows” when the internet goes dark, severe violence, broad crackdowns, and deadly crimes against civilians often follow. He wrote that cutting communications “is not security” but “a cover for violence,” urging the world to pay attention so Iran is not “left alone in the dark.” His comments came as authorities reportedly imposed a full blackout amid a widening crackdown following mass participation across multiple cities in response to Prince Reza Pahlavi’s call on 18 Dey. درباره تشدید سرکوب و قطع سراسری اینترنت پس از همراهی گسترده مردم در شهرهای مختلف با فراخوان شاهزاده رضا پهلوی در ۱۸ دی مطرح شده است.
2026/01/10Sports Coaches Join the Chorus in Support of Iran’s Uprising
Several Iranian sports figures sent direct messages to Iran International voicing support for protesters during Iran’s “national revolution” against the Islamic Republic, adding a prominent cultural and public-facing layer to the movement’s domestic and diaspora backing. Among those cited were football coach Alireza Marzban, football coach Bijan Azizi, former footballer and coach Peyvand Mosavat, and Mehran Alipour, a member of the Iranian-Canadian sports community, who publicly aligned themselves with the protest movement.
2026/01/10Iran Labor Group Warns: Internet Shutdown Could Mask a Wider Crackdown
The “Confederation of Labor Iran – Abroad” issued an appeal to trade unions worldwide, warning that Iran’s internet blackout could enable a broader and more concealed crackdown on the ongoing protests. The group argued that cutting connectivity weakens independent reporting and monitoring, disrupts coordination among citizens, and increases the risk that violence and arrests escalate away from public scrutiny.
2026/01/10Labor Confederation Warns: Iran Internet Cut Could Enable “Hidden” Crackdown
The “Confederation of Labor Iran – Abroad” issued an appeal to trade unions worldwide, warning that Iran’s internet shutdown could create conditions for a broader and less visible crackdown on the ongoing protests. The group urged international labor organizations to treat connectivity as a core human-rights and worker-protection issue, arguing that blackouts reduce independent reporting, obstruct coordination, and can mask abuses as security operations intensify.
2026/01/10IRIB Host Sparks Outrage After Calling Protesters “Trash” Live on TV
During a live broadcast on Iran’s state TV Channel 3, Amirhossein Tahmasebi—host of the morning show Salam Sobh Bekheir —used insulting language to describe Iranian protesters as “trash,” underscoring the hardening tone of official media as street protests continue. Separately, Iran International editorial team member Mohammad Rahbar pointed to the government’s growing difficulty in constructing a persuasive narrative of the “national revolution” for its own supporters, highlighting a widening gap between state messaging and public anger.
English
پارسی