The UK temporarily closes its embassy in Tehran. Iran closes airspace to all but authorised flights

"We have temporarily closed the British Embassy in Tehran, which will now operate remotely. The Foreign Office travel directions have been updated to reflect this consular change," said a government spokesperson for Keir Starmer.

The British ambassador and all consular staff were evacuated based on a security assessment and the decision to prioritise the protection of staff.

The UN Security Council could meet on Friday on Iran. This was announced by Ambassador Maurizio Massari, in his greeting at the end of his term as permanent representative at the UN Security Council.

The Italian diplomatic office in Tehran "remains fully operational and can be contacted 24 hours a day, at the disposal of compatriots for any information or need". Ambassador Paola Amadei recalled this in a TV interview.

'We are absolutely in touch with Italians who are permanently resident here, but also with those compatriots who are in the country temporarily - for example - because they were visiting the country or visiting family members,' the diplomat assured.

"We have been informed quite strongly that the killings in Iran are ceasing and there is no plan for executions," the US President said in the Oval Office. "Today would be the day for executions," he added. Trump then pointed out that he would be very disappointed if the information did not turn out to be true.

The G7 countries said they were "deeply alarmed by the high number of deaths and injuries" recorded during the crackdown on protests in Iran and ready to impose further sanctions if the violence continues. "The G7 members remain ready to impose further restrictive measures if Iran continues to repress protests and dissent in violation of international human rights obligations," the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the EU High Representative, said in a joint statement.

Non-essential personnel from the Italian embassy in Tehran will leave the country. The decision, according to informed sources, was taken after a meeting at the Farnesina that Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had with the ambassador to Tehran, Paola Amadei, and the other ambassadors in the region, the Defence and Intelligence.

"There are about 600 Italians in Iran, mostly concentrated in the Tehran area. The Embassy has been actively monitoring compatriots in transit or passing through in recent weeks. 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'. This was announced in a note by the Farnesina, at the end of the meeting Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani held this afternoon at the Farnesina with the Italian Ambassador in Tehran, the Italian Ambassadors in the area, the Defence and the intelligence sector.

The airline Ita continues to operate to Tel Aviv but, based on the evolving situation in the Middle East, has suspended night flights at the moment until Tuesday 20 January. This is according to company sources.

The German airline Lufthansa has called on its employees to prepare to leave Israel and will cancel all flights to and from Israel starting tomorrow. This was reported by the Israeli media Channel 12.

Some personnel at a key US military base in Qatar have been asked to evacuate. This was reported by a US official and the Gulf country. The decision to evacuate by Wednesday evening comes after a senior official in Tehran mentioned the country's retaliatory attacks in June against the Al Udeid airbase near Doha. Qatar says the changes are a response to 'regional tensions'.

Paris is studying the possibility of using material from the European communications satellite operator, Eutelsat, to help Iranians communicate with the outside world, after the authorities in Tehran cut off the internet in the country where widespread popular protest is ongoing. Iran cut off internet access for the population on 8 January, preventing Iranians from sharing information about ongoing demonstrations and repression with the rest of the world. "We are exploring all options," Barrot said in the Assemblée Nationale in response to a question on the matter from a deputy, "and the one you mentioned is one of them. Questioned later, Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux said that 'the satellite track will in particular be explored. What our authorities are asking is that we can explore this track with Eutelsat to see if it is technically possible'.

"A meeting is being held in the crisis room of the Farnesina by Minister Antonio Tajani with leaders of the Ministry, Defence, Italian security, the Italian ambassador in Tehran and the ambassadors in the main capitals involved in the current crisis in Iran. The Farnesina confirms the indication to leave Iran to Italian citizens who are able to do so'. This was reported in a note by the Farnesina.

Do we have contact with the son of Shah Reza Pahlavi? 'No, we have not spoken with him. It is not up to us to decide who will govern Iran in the future, we only want, that there be a democratic transition, that there be no death penalty to repress the opposition". Thus Antonio Tajani, leaving the Senate, replied to reporters. "It is up to the Iranians to decide their destiny, it is not up to us to impose this or that, I respect everyone. The Shah's son is a protagonist in Iranian politics, even if he is in exile. However, it is the Iranians who will decide'. "We have always had diplomatic relations with everyone, we have always spoken even with the current Iranian government, we just cannot accept what is happening."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the situation in Iran and a possible US 'response' with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Axios reports this, citing Israeli and American sources.

According to the US website, the telephone conversation took place on Monday, while a new conversation between the two is scheduled for today. The focus of the discussion was the evolution of the protests in Iran and Washington's options in case of further escalation.

"The political director spoke with the Iranian ambassador (summoned to the Farnesina today) and reiterated our concerns and condemnation. The reaction was that they summoned the Italian ambassador to Tehran. They reacted like this'. This was said by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaking about the situation in Iran on the sidelines of a book presentation at the Senate.

The Pentagon has presented various options for striking Iran and 'any attack is expected in at least several days and could provoke a strong retaliation from Iran'. This was reported in the New York Times citing American sources, according to which the attack could be on Iran's nuclear programme, but could also take the form of a circuit attack or one against the internal security apparatus, which is using lethal force against protesters.

An American military intervention against Iran is likely. Two European sources quoted by Ynet say this: one of them considers it possible within the next 24 hours. According to an Israeli source, President Donald Trump has taken the decision to intervene, although the target and timing of the attack would not yet be clear.

At least 3,428 protesters have been killed since the start of protests in Iran, according to the Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO quoted by Agence France Presse. The Norway-based NGO points out that over 10,000 people have reportedly been arrested in Iran as part of the protests.

The sharp increase in the number of deaths in Iran compared to the previous death toll is justified by 'new information received from sources in the Iranian ministries of health and education', the Norway-based NGO points out, according to which 'this figure is an absolute minimum'.

The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia urged its staff and US citizens to raise the alert level and limit travel, in light of regional tensions related to Iran.

The US diplomatic mission explained that, "given the persistent tensions in the region, the United States Mission in Saudi Arabia has recommended that its personnel exercise caution and limit non-essential travel to any military installations in the region". The same recommendation was also extended to US citizens present in the country: 'we recommend that US citizens in the Kingdom do the same'.

An operational meeting for the safety of Italians living in Iran will be held at the Farnesina shortly. This was confirmed by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in the Chamber of Deputies.

On the number of Italian citizens present in Iran, Tajani explained that "We are almost up to 600. Now," the minister continued, "we will see how the situation evolves, it is a meeting with our services and with the embassy in Tehran, because we must first of all worry, at a time of such great tension, about the safety of Italians, which is what we always do. Whatever international crisis there is, whether it is related to political events or to tragedies like the one in Crans-Montana', for us 'the first concern is the Italian citizen and therefore the first thing we do is to see how best to protect our fellow citizens'.

Iran denounces the 25 per cent tariffs introduced on Monday "with immediate effect" by the US on imports from countries that maintain trade relations with Tehran as a "revenge against the people who defended their homeland". "The Iranian people have been subjected to cruel and illegal economic sanctions and pressure from the US and some of its allies for over 75 years under various pretexts. This reflects an institutionalised resentment towards the Iranian people within the US executive and political system," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei. The sanctions, he added, are illegal and inhuman' and 'in conflict' with international principles and norms. "A crime against humanity, in 'violation of the fundamental rights of every single Iranian citizen'.

Iran is capable of responding to an attack as demonstrated last June with the launch of missiles on an American base in Qatar. This was emphasised by Supreme Leader's advisor Ali Khamenei, while anticipation grows as to how the US will act after Donald Trump's incendiary announcements, which did not rule out the military option against the Islamic Republic in aid of the protesters. The US president, "who repeatedly talks about the unsuccessful aggression against Iran's nuclear facilities, would do well to also mention the destruction of the US base in Al-Udeid by Iranian missiles," Ali Shamkhani said in a post on X. According to Khamenei's advisor, that raid demonstrated 'Iran's willingness and ability to respond to any attack'.

New squeeze on immigration by Donald Trump's administration. The State Department has suspended processing of all visa applications from 75 countries, including Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen. This was reported by Fox News, which viewed an internal department memo asking consular officials to refuse visas from these countries pending verification.

"It is time for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (Irgc) to finally be designated as a terrorist organisation." European Parliament President Roberta Metsola writes this in a post on social media, adding that the EU must "act decisively" and advocating the imposition of "tougher sanctions against those who support the Iranian regime through violence, killings and repression". "It is time for freedom in Iran," he writes, adding, "If not now, when?" The designation of the Pasdaran as a terrorist entity, complicated by the interpenetration between the military corps and the Iranian government, is being debated at the European Council level. For its part, says Metsola in a video message attached to the post, the Europarliament thinks "that the best message at this stage for the Iranians, the thousands of people who are in the streets, but also for all the communities living in our countries, would be to do just that". "We in Europe know what it is like to live under repression and to fight authoritarian regimes that keep us subjugated, and we have managed to overcome this on this continent. So we would say and encourage the people in the streets not to give up, because we see that cracks are really opening up and they should continue to press against them," the EP president concluded, urging the Iranian people to "believe and not give up".

The withdrawal of some personnel from the US base at Al Udeid southwest of Doha is in response to ''current regional tensions''. This was made known by Qatar in a note released by the International Media Office. Qatar, the statement said, ''continues to implement all necessary measures to safeguard, as a top priority, the safety and security of its citizens and residents''. Doha added that actions have been put in place to ''protect critical infrastructure and military sites''.

The Iranian authorities are allegedly asking some families to pay in order to recover the bodies of loved ones killed during mass protests and the subsequent crackdown. This was reported to CNN by two Iranian citizens, who speak of pressure, threats and practices already seen in the past. The case of Robina Aminian, a 23-year-old fashion student killed by gunshots during a demonstration, is emblematic. The family travelled to Tehran to try to recover the body, the young woman's uncle, Nezar Minouei, told CNN. 'Her mother, screaming, crying, and with enormous difficulty, managed to access the area where the bodies were stored to start looking for her daughter's,' he explained. 'When she found it, she practically had to steal it'.

Back in their hometown of Kermanshah, the family would later discover that the authorities had come to the house to demand payment in exchange for the body. For fear that the body might be seized again, Aminian was buried in an unmarked grave and without any funeral ceremony. A similar testimony came from another Iranian, who went to a cemetery in Tehran and asked to remain anonymous for security reasons. According to his account, the authorities 'are forcing people to pay to retrieve bodies from hospitals and morgues'. In some cases, he added, families would not even be allowed to get the remains of their loved ones back. According to CNN, this practice is nothing new. Similar allegations had already surfaced during the previous wave of protests in 2019.

"The testimonies that have come in from Iran are terrible. We are on the sixth day of the internet blackout and it is therefore increasingly difficult for people outside Iran to hear from their loved ones. They are all under pressure and psychologically very distressed because they are almost zombies walking around, going to work, to university, but really their only thought is in Iran. So there is this pain that we are feeling from the testimonies'. Says human rights activist and writer Pegah Moshir Pour, born in Iran and raised in Italy. "Just yesterday," she adds, "I received this testimony from a person who managed to connect with her family by phone, because the Internet continues to be closed. Her mother told her 'Tehran smells of blood'. Every time she leaves the house in the morning she smells this smell of blood, so this is the drama not only in sight, hearing, but also in smell, which if you think about it is the first thing we develop as human beings. These are terrifying descriptions'.

France is considering sending Eutelsat satellite terminals to Iran to help ensure Internet access after the recent communications blackout imposed by the Iranian authorities to stop the unrest. This was announced in Parliament by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. "We are exploring all options and the one you mentioned is among them," Barrot said, responding to a question about the possible dispatch of Eutelsat terminals to Iran.

The US is withdrawing personnel from major bases in the Middle East as a precautionary measure given the high tensions in the region. This was reported by al Jazeera, which reports Reuters citing American sources. Meanwhile, diplomatic sources confirm to Afp that part of the personnel at Al Udeid, the base in Qatar that is the largest US base in the Middle East with about 10,000 American military personnel, will be withdrawn.

''Trump's threats'' to attack Iran ''have not deterred the Islamic Republic at all, indeed they may have made the repression even more intense''. And ''attacking Iran would drastically increase the risks'' for the region, as well as for the Iranian population, because ''there is also the risk of more repression in the streets''. This is how Iranian political scientist Trita Parsi, executive vice-president of the Quincy Institute, speaks to Adnkronos about the situation in Iran and the risk of an American military intervention. Stressing that "the Venezuela model" is not applicable to Iran, the analyst and co-founder of the National Iranian American Council believes that the regime "may have extended its dominance in the short term", but it is also true that slowly, "every time it represses" so brutally, "its legitimacy erodes", even "among its supporters". The fact remains that, ''for the moment, the government's repression has managed to significantly reduce the protests'' that broke out on 28 December over the caravan and which, after having reached more than one hundred Iranian cities, appear to have diminished in recent hours, Parsi believes. ''It remains to be seen whether this is a sustainable situation or not'' for the regime, while ''new protests could emerge as early as this Friday'', he explains.

Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates are working behind the scenes at the diplomatic level to try to prevent US President Donald Trump's threats against Iran from resulting in a military strike. A well-informed official in the region told CNN, explaining that the three Gulf Arab nations allied with the US fear that military action against Iran could have far-reaching consequences for the Middle East. "Any military escalation will have consequences for the entire region, including its security and economy," said the official quoted by CNN on condition of anonymity. Some Arab governments have also warned that a US military strike against Iran "could have the opposite effect" to the ongoing protests and "unite Iranians on both sides behind the regime," the official said.

Iran International, the London-based Iranian dissident TV station, reports that plainclothes security forces and members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards targeted the homes of the families of those killed during protests in eastern Tehran. The forces carried out intimidating raids, shooting, hurling insults and looting homes. According to Iran International, the Pasdaran ordered the families to collect the bodies of the victims before dawn and to carry out the burials quickly and privately, adding that they will be charged for the use of ammunition.

The Indian Embassy in Tehran urges all compatriots present in Iran to leave the country by any means as soon as possible "in light of the evolving situation". The Hindustan Times newspaper writes this, adding that the Embassy urges all Indians to exercise extreme caution, staying away from areas where demonstrations are taking place, and keeping their passports handy. This morning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a note, had reiterated the invitation to Indians not to travel to the country, already announced on 4 January.

"Today I called an operational meeting at the ministry to assess the situation and to see if we can also guarantee the safety of our compatriots living in Tehran and other cities in Iran". This was said by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani at the end of the event "Diplomacy meets the Carabinieri Officers' School".

Iran's state-affiliated Fars news agency, reported by CNN, says the Internet is likely to remain disconnected for the 'next one to two weeks'. Iran is in the sixth day of a nationwide Internet blackout, imposed by the regime to suppress mass anti-government protests, although some landline and mobile phone users were able to call abroad for the first time yesterday.

Further reading

Iran: Starlink in the storm of the digital blackout

14 January 2026

Iranian state television announced that a mass funeral will be held in Tehran today for three hundred security officers and civilians who lost their lives during the ongoing protests in Iran. The funeral is expected to take place at the University of Tehran under tight security. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which is monitoring the death toll, more than 2,550 people died during the protests, including 2,403 protesters and 147 government members. The victims also included twelve minors and nine civilians who, according to the agency, were not taking part in the protests. Over 18,100 people were arrested, the organisation said.

The direct lines of communication that had been opened between Iran and the US have been suspended. This was announced by a senior Iranian official quoted by the Guardian. In particular, communications between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have been suspended. The decision was taken after US President Donald Trump's threats to intervene in Iran. Threats that, the official explained, jeopardise diplomatic efforts and potential meetings between Araghchi and Witkoff to find a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

According to various Israeli media citing security sources, about 500 members of the Iranian security forces have been killed since the beginning of the protests in the Islamic Republic. In Jerusalem, this figure is presented as a key indicator of the unprecedented violence and intensity of the clashes between the regime and the protesters.

This tally comes as the Iranian opposition claimed that more than 12,000 protesters were killed and more than 10,000 arrested. For Israeli officials, the high number of casualties within the security apparatus marks a clear break with previous protest movements.

Iran has warned neighbouring countries that it will strike US bases in retaliation for any attacks by Washington. Reuters online reports this, citing Iranian officials. Tehran, the source explains, has told countries in the region, from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates to Turkey, that US bases in those countries will be attacked if the US targets Iran, asking these countries to prevent Washington from attacking Iran.

"China supports and hopes that the Iranian government and people can overcome the current difficulties and safeguard national stability. At the same time, China opposes the interference of external forces in a country's internal affairs and does not support the use or threat of force in international relations." This was stated by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, emphasising that China hopes all parties will make greater efforts to contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East. This was reported by the Global Times.

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Iranian Shah expelled during the 1979 revolution, urged members of the Iranian army to protect Iranian citizens and join the wave of protests. "You are the national army of Iran, not the army of the Islamic Republic. You have a duty to protect the lives of your compatriots. You do not have much time. Join them as soon as possible,' he said on X.

The head of Iran's judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, promised speedy trials for suspects arrested during the protests, Iranian state television quoted in international media said today. "If someone has burned someone, beheaded someone and set them on fire, then we must act quickly," Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said during a visit to a prison where protesters are being held. Iranian news agencies also quoted him as saying that trials should be held 'in public'.

The US-based human rights organisation Hrana said it had ascertained the deaths of 2,571 people during protests in Iran, Reuters reports on its website. Among them were 2,403 protesters, 147 people affiliated with the government, 12 people under the age of 18, and nine civilians not participating in the protests.

These are decisive hours for US President Donald J. Trump, who is confronted with a dilemma that is now difficult to avoid: to intervene militarily against the Iranian leadership, as he implied in his post on Truth Social on 2 January when he declared that the United States is 'locked and loaded' (ready for action) or to remain on the sidelines, hoping that the popular uprisings in Iran alone will lead to the collapse of the regime.

Should Trump decide not to act, the cost would first and foremost be political and reputational. Having drawn a public red line, inaction would risk eroding American credibility in the region. In Iran, part of the popular mobilisation seems to have found new hope precisely in the perception that Trump represents external leverage against authoritarian regimes: slogans and placards calling for US intervention can be seen in several cities, with messages such as 'Trump, symbol of peace: don't let them kill us'. In this context, a step backwards would be read as a betrayal of expectations.

Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, sent a letter to Secretary General Antonio Guterres in which he attacked the US and Israel. "The United States and the Israeli regime bear a direct and undeniable legal responsibility for the resulting loss of innocent civilian lives, particularly among young people," he wrote in the letter.

"US fantasies and policy towards Iran are rooted in a desire for regime change, with sanctions, threats, orchestrated unrest and chaos serving as a modus operandi to create a pretext for military intervention." This was written by the Iranian mission to the United Nations in X.

The US State Department has asked American citizens to leave Iran immediately and "if possible, consider leaving by land, heading for Armenia or Turkey". The department advised Americans to 'seek alternative means of communication' due to 'continued internet disruptions' and to 'have a departure plan that does not depend on US government assistance'.

Donald Trump arrived at the White House from Detroit to attend a meeting on Iran. "This is a very bad situation," the president said. "I'm going to get exact data shortly on what is happening in terms of casualties. It seems that the number of casualties is significant. I will know within 20 minutes and I will act accordingly," he added.