Iran, new sanctions from US and G7. Pasdaran general: 'We will cut off Trump's hand'

The Pentagon announced the movement of a naval strike group from the South China Sea towards the Middle East. According to The Hill reports, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its strike group were spotted heading west, away from the Indo-Pacific region, according to images provided by Copernicus. Moving the attack group, which includes fighter planes, missile launchers destroyers and at least one attack submarine, is expected to take about one week.

"According to the media and human rights organisations, Iranian security forces allegedly killed hundreds, or possibly thousands, of protesters between 8 and 10 January. The United Nations cannot verify these figures. Nor can they verify human rights observers' estimates of mass arrests exceeding 18,000 in mid-January'. This was said by Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, UN Under-Secretary-General for Africa, Political Affairs and Peace Operations Departments, during the Security Council meeting. "We call on the authorities to respect the right to a fair trial for all detainees," she added, "Everyone must be treated humanely and have the opportunity to receive visits from family members. In particular, we call on Iran to stop any execution related to protest cases'. Furthermore, he stressed that 'all deaths must be investigated promptly, independently and transparently', and those 'responsible for any violations must be held accountable in accordance with international norms and standards'.

President Donald Trump is taking time before deciding on a possible attack on Iran, while the White House assesses internally and with allies the timing and modalities of an operation that could strike the regime without triggering serious retaliation. This is what five US, Israeli and Arab sources quoted by Axios have indicated. Although a raid does not seem imminent at the moment, one US source told Axios that 'everyone knows that the president keeps his finger on the button'. Among allied countries, Israel is reportedly against it, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu having already spoken to Trump asking to wait to give Israel more time to prepare for possible retaliation from Tehran.

According to a US official, it is too early to say that the White House is adopting a de-escalation strategy: 'The president is still weighing options and watching the situation unfold.

Donald Trump has been informed that a large-scale attack on Iran would be unlikely to bring down the government and could trigger a wider conflict. This was reported by US officials to the Wall Street Journal. Therefore, the president and for now will simply monitor how Tehran handles the protests before deciding. Middle Eastern partners have also told the White House that a massive raid could instead create more instability.

Iran's ambassador to France, Mohammad Amin Nejad, assured today that "the majority of Iranians defend the Supreme Guide", who enjoys "unquestionable support". Interviewed by BFM TV, the diplomat also responded to a question about the number of protesters killed in the country, saying he "does not know" how many Iranians have died. Nejad went on to say that no executions have been suspended by Tehran, contrary to the White House spokeswoman's statement. Asked: "Has there been no execution scheduled?", the ambassador replied in the negative.

"The president and his team are closely monitoring the situation and all options remain on the table." This was stated by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, commenting on the situation in Iran during the press briefing.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that "Donald Trump received the news that some 800 executions in Iran were halted yesterday and is monitoring the situation." The spokeswoman further clarified that 'all options remain on the table'. The president and his team, she added, have told Tehran that if the killings continue "there will be severe consequences".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked US President Donald Trump to reverse any plans for a US military strike against Iran. This was reported by a senior US official quoted by the New York Times. According to the source, Netanyahu and Trump had talks yesterday, when the US president said he had received information from 'very important sources on the other side' that Iran had stopped killing protesters and was not proceeding with the announced executions. Trump's words were interpreted as a possible signal away from the possibility of military action against Tehran, an option that the White House had been considering for several days in the context of escalating tensions and internal repression in Iran.

US President Donald Trump, in a phone call with the Nbc News network, said that using the threat of his intervention in Iran 'we saved a lot of lives yesterday', making veiled reference to the fact that the Iranian regime had stopped killing protesters and halted some planned executions. Trump did not specify whether he is still considering taking action against Iran and told reporters, "I'm not going to tell you." Meanwhile, the UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting Thursday afternoon at the request of the US.

"We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, are deeply concerned about the developments regarding the ongoing protests in Iran. We strongly oppose the escalation of the Iranian authorities' brutal repression of the Iranian people, who have courageously expressed their legitimate aspirations for a better life, dignity and freedom, since late December 2025'. This is what is stated in a note published on the EU website.

"We urge the Iranian authorities," the note continues, "to exercise utmost restraint, to abstain from violence and to defend the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Iranian citizens, including the right to freedom of expression, to seek, receive and disseminate information, and freedom of association and peaceful assembly, without fear of reprisals.

"I had a constructive phone call with Foreign Minister Badr al Busaidi to discuss the excellent relationships with Oman, strengthened by the Prime Minister's visit to the country yesterday, and to discuss the situation in Iran." Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote this on X. "We support Oman's role of dialogue between the US and Iran to avoid further escalation, also with reference to the nuclear dossier, and for the peace and stability of the Middle East region," he added. "On Gaza, I reiterated Italy's commitment to the reconstruction and training of the Palestinian leading class".

"Let us think of what is happening in these days in Iran: along with the efferent cruelty of the extermination of protesters, concealing what is happening - the street demonstrations, the repression, the killings - has been the first concern of a regime, which, from the very beginning, has tried to block access to sources of information, the dissemination of news". These were the words of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, who met at the Quirinale with participants at the Venice Seminar for the British press.

Among the Iranian leaders affected by the new US sanctions is Ali Larijani, secretary of the Iranian Supreme Security Council, the highest security body in the country. "He coordinated the response to the protests on behalf of the Iranian Supreme Leader and publicly urged the Iranian security forces to use force to repress peaceful protesters," the Treasury Department memo announcing the new clampdown noted. Also sanctioned were four security officials operating at the regional level in Iran: Mohammad Reza Hashemifar, Nematollah Bagheri, Azizollah Maleki and Yadollah Buali as well as the 'shadow banking network through which Iran conducts annual trade worth tens of trillions of dollars, circumventing the formal international financial system'.

The EU is "considering tightening sanctions against Iran". This was confirmed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference during the College of Commissioners' visit to Cyprus. "Sanctions are incisive, so I would not put them aside: they have their effect, they weaken the regime and help push for it to come to an end and for there to be change," she added, calling what is happening in Iran "abominable". "Ultimately, it is the Iranian people who are fighting courageously for change. They have our full political support. They also ask us to include in the sanctions list not only the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, as we have already done, but also others responsible for atrocities," the EU leader continued. 'I can fully understand, given what is happening in Iran, that this is something important: and yes, we will do it,' she concluded.

A Canadian citizen has died in Iran 'at the hands of the Iranian authorities', denounced Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, without specifying more about the circumstances of the death. 'Peaceful protests have led the regime to a flagrant disregard for human life,' she added, suggesting that the compatriot was killed by the intervention of security forces against the protesters.

The US Treasury Department announced new sanctions against Iran for its crackdown on protests. 'Today, as the Iranian people courageously take to the streets to demand basic freedoms and economic security, the Treasury Department is taking action against the perpetrators of the brutal repression of peaceful protesters,' reads a memo from Secretary Scott Bessent announcing sanctions against 'key Iranian leaders'.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee gave the go-ahead to the bipartisan resolution on support for the protests in Iran against the Khamenei regime, with the M5S abstaining (the same script as yesterday's vote in the Senate). The M5S text that added a commitment "to avert unilateral military actions outside the framework of international law, promoting all necessary diplomatic and sanctioning initiatives by the international community and international bodies" was rejected. In favour of the five-star text were the Avs exponents (who also signed it) and the PD with the exception of the reformist Dem Lia Quartapelle who did not participate in the vote.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies announced that an Iranian Red Crescent employee was 'killed' and five others were injured while carrying out their duties in the Iranian province of Gilan on 10 January. In a statement, the IFRC said it was 'deeply saddened by the murder of Amir Ali Latifi' and the 'injuries inflicted' on the other five Iranian Red Crescent employees, without providing further details on the circumstances.

A US aircraft carrier has left the South China Sea after a live-fire exercise and is heading towards the Middle East amid rising tensions related to anti-government protests in Iran. This was reported by the US broadcaster NewsNation, citing Pentagon sources.

According to reports, the Department of Defence has ordered the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group, which includes Arleigh Burke-class missile launchers destroyers, to leave their position in the South China Sea and head for the Middle East.

Portugal closes its embassy in Tehran and advises against travel to Iran. The temporary closure was decided on Wednesday afternoon, according to a statement sent by the Foreign Ministry to the press today. The ministry also states that 'all Portuguese citizens present in the country have been contacted' and should leave the country shortly.

In these tense hours all eyes are on the possible use of American military force to attack Iran. After the warnings of the past few days against the ayatollahs for the fierce repression of protests, according to Reuters Donald Trump has decided to intervene. Later in the evening, the US president, speaking from the Oval Office, clarified that he had been informed that Tehran had stopped the massacre "and there is no plan for executions". "Yesterday I would have said yes, today I would say maybe no. The situation changes from hour to hour": this is how Defence Minister Guido Crosetto responded to those who asked him whether in his opinion the US will intervene in Iran.

In the meantime, the alert level has increased: the Farnesina has let it be known that 'there are over 900 members of the Italian Armed Forces in the area, including about 500 in Iraq and 400 in Kuwait, where precautionary measures are being taken to protect military personnel'.

"There are between 500 and 600" Italians in Iran. "We are following this very closely. We had a meeting last night at the ministry: we told them to make all non-stationary Italians leave, those who don't live there: tourists, etc. We strongly urged them to leave the country'. This was said by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in the Chamber of Deputies.

"We will reduce the number of people working in the embassy: only those people will remain who are indispensable to the running of the diplomatic representation," he added.

"Right now there are still commercial means to get out" of Iran "and we last night recommended to the compatriots who are travelling and to the few Spaniards, about 140 of them many of dual nationality" Hispanic-Iranian, "to leave the country even if only temporarily". This was said today by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, on his arrival at the Congress of Deputies, where he reported to the House on the situation in Venezuela and Spain's position. "We have not yet planned an evacuation of our diplomatic staff," Albares clarified, when questioned by reporters about a possible US attack in Iran and the order given by Washington to its staff to leave the country. The Spanish diplomatic chief acknowledged that "the situation is very complicated" and assured that Madrid is "monitoring the situation to the minute". Albares demanded 'once again' from the regime in Tehran, as he had already done with the Iranian ambassador summoned to Madrid yesterday, that 'freedom of peaceful demonstration and freedom of expression be respected'. "There must be an end to the brutal repression against demonstrators, the lack of communication with foreign countries and arbitrary arrests," he insisted. Recalling that 'Spain is a country totally opposed to the application of the death penalty', the minister warned: 'It cannot be applied to protesters who have protested and have been arbitrarily arrested'. And he appealed to Tehran to 'return to the negotiating table'.

Turkey has called for dialogue on the crisis in Iran, where according to the opposition thousands of protesters have been killed during protests and where US President Donald Trump has threatened to intervene. "We absolutely want the problems to be solved through dialogue," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters in Istanbul. "We hope that the US and Iran will resolve the issue between themselves, through mediators, other actors or direct dialogue. We are closely following these developments," he added.

Every morning, Azadeh Ghasemi wakes up early in Toronto: it is already afternoon in Tehran, because of the time difference, the two cities are separated by eight and a half hours. He does this to find out how his ari are doing and to get his friends direct information about Iran: he sees on TV the protests of his compatriots and the brutal repression of the Muslim theocracy of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Since last Friday, however, she has not heard from either her parents or her husband. 'I am very worried about my family: my father and mother are elderly, they are barricaded in the house, they don't go out on the streets to protest, I fear for my husband's life instead,' she says on the phone from Canada. For years, the internet and the telephone has been the only way she has kept in touch with her loved ones and her country: she lives through days of anguish. But 'after 47 years and six attempts to change the regime, I hope this is the right time'.

The internet blackout in Iran has exceeded 156 hours. This is what NetBlocks reports, pointing out that as 'the silence deepens after a brutal crackdown', the online information vacuum 'is leading to the amplification of pro-regime reports, artificial intelligence-generated fake news and other agendas'. The internet blockade began last Thursday. Yesterday, the Iranian news agency Fars reported that the internet connection is likely to remain disconnected for the 'next one to two weeks'.

Erfan Soltani, the 26-year-old Iranian arrested on 8 January while demonstrating in Fardis near Tehran, was not sentenced to death. This was clarified by the Iranian judiciary, according to Iranian state media reports. Soltani, the judiciary specified, is accused of 'collusion against the internal security of the country and propaganda activities against the regime'. It was the Kurdish human rights organisation Hengaw that had raised the alarm about his imminent hanging, stating that his family had been informed that his death sentence would be carried out yesterday. Soltani's family later stated that they had been informed that his execution had been postponed.

"This spiral of bloodbaths and impunity must end. The scale and severity of the current repression and killings are unprecedented even when compared to the serious human rights violations and crimes under international law committed by the Iranian authorities in various previous protests". This was stated by Agnès Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty International. The human rights organisation denounced that, based on verified video footage and credible information from eyewitnesses, mass unlawful killings are taking place in Iran, and called for coordinated immediate action by UN member states to prevent further bloodshed, including by convening extraordinary meetings and sessions of the Human Rights Council and Security Council. "While large sectors of Iranian society filled the streets in defiance of bullets, the Iranian Supreme Leader and security forces launched their worst repressive campaign. They intentionally killed en masse people who were demanding fundamental changes and a transition from the Islamic Republic system to a form of government that respects human rights and dignity. The international community must take urgent diplomatic steps to protect protesters from further massacres and end the impunity that is driving the state policy of massacres,' Callamard added. According to evidence gathered by Amnesty International, security forces positioned in the streets and on the roofs of private homes, mosques and police stations have repeatedly opened fire with rifles and pistols armed with metal pellets, hitting unarmed protesters often in the head or chest. Medical facilities are overflowing with injured people as desperate families search for their loved ones among the body bags filling morgues or see bodies stacked on top of each other on truck trailers, in freezers or warehouses.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington is monitoring what he described as a wave of capital flight by Iran's ruling elite as fears grow over the possible collapse of the Islamic Republic amid unrest and threats of a US attack. "As Treasury enforcing sanctions, we can see that we're now seeing the 'rats fleeing the ship' because we're seeing millions, tens of millions of dollars being moved out of the country, sneaked out by the Iranian leadership," Bessent said in an interview with Newsmax. "So they're abandoning ship, and we're seeing them coming into banks and financial institutions around the world," the Treasury Secretary added. "What we do at Treasury is we track the flow of money, both through the banking system and through digital assets. We will track these assets and they will not be able to hold them."

US President Donald Trump has told his top national security aides that he wants any military action against Iran to deal a swift and decisive blow to the regime, but without triggering a protracted conflict lasting weeks or months, NBC News reports.

Citing a US official and sources close to the dossier, the broadcaster states that Trump's advisers have not yet been able to guarantee that the Islamic Republic would fall quickly if hit by the US, and also cites concerns that it lacks the necessary military resources in the Middle East to defend itself against an Iranian response.

'Today and tomorrow there will be no hangings'. This was said by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaking on 'Special Report' on Fox News.

In an interview with Reuters, published on the agency's website, Donald Trump said that exiled former Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi 'seems very nice, but I don't know how he would behave in his own country. And we're not there yet... But it's very early, too early to say. I don't know how he gets along with his country'. "I don't know if his country would accept his leadership, and certainly if they did, it would be perfect for me," he added, noting that he had never spoken to Pahlavi.

Iran has reopened its airspace to commercial flights, after a closure that lasted more than four hours during the night between Wednesday and Thursday, during which international carriers had to divert their routes to the north and south of the country. Meanwhile, Iranian airlines have already resumed flying over Tehran's airspace.

The United States has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the subject of Iran for this afternoon. This was stated by a Council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity as the meeting has not yet been officially scheduled.