14.01.2026 14:06
A senior Iranian official stated to the Reuters news agency, "Tehran has informed regional countries, from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to Turkey, that if the U.S. targets Iran, there will be attacks on U.S. bases in these countries, and it has asked these countries to prevent Washington from attacking Iran."
Protests that began against rising living costs in Iran on December 28 have quickly escalated into anti-government demonstrations and violent incidents, growing increasingly larger. U.S. President Trump, who frequently supports the protesters, has threatened intervention against Iran.
REGIONAL COUNTRIES ASKED THE U.S. TO STOP
A senior Iranian official stated in an interview with the British Reuters news agency that Iran has warned regional countries that U.S. bases in the region would be targeted if the U.S. attacks. The official said, "Tehran has informed regional countries, from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to Turkey, that if the U.S. targets Iran, there will be attacks on U.S. bases in these countries, and asked these countries to prevent Washington from attacking Iran."
"DIRECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ARAKCHI AND WITKOFF SUSPENDED"
The senior Iranian official said that direct communication between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi and U.S. Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff has been suspended following U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of intervention in Iran. The official emphasized that U.S. threats undermine diplomatic efforts and that planned meetings between the two officials to find a diplomatic solution to the long-standing nuclear disagreement have been canceled.
ORDER FOR SWIFT TRIALS INVOLVING VIOLENT INCIDENTS
Gulamhüseyin Muhsin Ejei, the head of Iran's Judiciary, visited a prison in Tehran where protesters are held. Ejei stated that they plan to act swiftly against those arrested for the deadly violent incidents during the protests. Ejei said, "If someone has burned another, beheaded someone, and set someone on fire, then we must do our job quickly. If we want to do something, we must do it now. If we want to do something, we must do it swiftly. Any delay will reduce the deterrent effect. If it is delayed, two months, three months later, it will not have the same effect."
"EFRAN, THE FIRST PROTESTER SENTENCED TO DEATH"
Prosecutors in Tehran stated that they will seek the death penalty for "rebels and saboteurs" arrested for deadly violent incidents. A statement from the U.S. State Department's Persian-language X account reported that a 26-year-old named Erfan Soltani has been sentenced to death. The statement noted, "Erfan is the first protester sentenced to death, but he will not be the last," and it was recorded that more than 10,000 Iranians have been arrested during the protests.
DEATH TOLL RISES IN IRAN
According to the latest statement from the U.S.-based civil society organization Iran Human Rights Activists (HRA), 2,571 people have lost their lives in the protests, including 2,403 protesters and 142 security personnel. At least 1,134 people have also been seriously injured. Protests spread across 187 cities in 31 provinces of the country have led to the arrest of at least 18,434 people.