EconoTicker

Israel’s Channel 12, citing a senior security source, reported that Israeli decision-makers see a “window of opportunity” and have adopted a clear line: if Iran attacks, Israel would treat it as more than another round of escalation and move to bring about the regime’s collapse. The report comes amid heightened regional alert levels and intensifying talk of wider military escalation.

G7 foreign ministers (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US) together with the EU’s High Representative said they are “gravely concerned” by the ongoing protests in Iran and strongly opposed the authorities’ intensified repression since late December 2025. The statement condemned the deliberate use of violence—including killings, arbitrary detentions, and intimidation—urged full restraint and respect for fundamental rights (including freedom of expression, access to information, and peaceful assembly), and warned the G7 is prepared to impose additional restrictive measures and sanctions if the crackdown and rights violations persist.

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, wrote on X that Europe must act “decisively,” arguing “If not now, then when?” She called for stricter sanctions on those who, in her words, keep Iran’s rulers in power through violence, killings, and repression, and said it is time for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be formally recognized as a terrorist organization—adding that “it’s time for freedom in Iran.”

U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham wrote on X that the “next step” in response to Iran’s crackdown is to stand with protesters seeking an end to repression—but argued that support alone is insufficient. He said those responsible for killing civilians should be stopped “as soon as possible” and “with every necessary tool,” framing the goal as making Iranians “safe again.”

The New York Times reported—citing U.S. officials—that the U.S. Navy now has three missile-capable destroyers in the Middle East region, including the USS Roosevelt, which recently entered the Red Sea, and that at least one missile-firing submarine is also positioned in the area. The deployments underscore a posture of heightened readiness as Washington weighs next steps amid escalating pressure on Tehran.

A diplomatic source told Iran International that the German government has held a security meeting to review the situation in Iran. No further details on the agenda or outcomes were disclosed in the report.

CNN reported that while U.S. B-2 bombers played a leading role in last summer’s strikes, a broader set of potential targets this time could make other options more suitable—particularly long-range standoff weapons that reduce risk to U.S. forces. Retired U.S. Navy captain and analyst Carl Schuster said IRGC command nodes and regional bases could be hit with Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from ships or submarines at distance, while the air-launched JASSM family—fired from aircraft including fighters and bombers—was also cited as a possible option; analysts added drones could be used as well. Visiting Griffith Asia Institute fellow Peter Layton told CNN it is unlikely the U.S. would rely on manned aircraft dropping short-range munitions or unguided gravity bombs, which he said would be assessed as too risky.

CNN reported that analysts see a wide range of potential U.S. targeting options if Washington chooses to escalate, with visiting Griffith Asia Institute fellow Peter Layton saying one early option could involve senior Iranian leaders—likely indirectly—because Iran has learned to disperse and conceal key figures after last year’s Israeli strikes that killed senior commanders and nuclear scientists. Retired U.S. Navy captain and Hawaii-based analyst Carl Schuster echoed that assessment, arguing Iran now hides what it values, but the U.S. has demonstrated it can strike what it can locate. Layton added that hitting leaders’ homes or offices could still send a clear message, even if the military value is limited and largely symbolic as a signal of support for protesters.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer told Iran International that he is fully prepared to take necessary steps to support Iranians’ access to the internet amid reported nationwide restrictions, adding: “I hope Trump acts as soon as possible against the Islamic Republic.”

Israeli Channel 12 reported that Lufthansa has told staff to be ready to leave Israel and to brace for flight cancellations starting Thursday, January 15, 2026, amid rising regional tensions. Separately, Lufthansa said it will avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace and operate daytime-only flights to Tel Aviv and Amman through January 19, warning that some flights may still be canceled as a result of the adjusted operations.

Mojtaba Ferdowsi Bor, Iran’s representative in Cairo, told Al Hadath that Iran is “without doubt” in a “state of war,” describing the current moment as an active wartime posture rather than a diplomatic standoff, as regional tensions and military signaling continue to escalate.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it has launched the Middle Eastern Air Defense – Combined Defense Operations Cell (MEAD-CDOC) inside the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, staffed by U.S. and regional partner personnel. CENTCOM said the new cell is intended to tighten air-and-missile defense coordination, accelerate information and threat-warning sharing, and support multinational drills and contingency response, building on earlier bilateral command posts created with Qatar and Bahrain.