Lindsey Graham Praises Trump, Warns On Iran
Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator for South Carolina, has warned against abandoning the Iranian people:
Good morning.
According to the latest aggregated data compiled by the US-based human rights agency HRANA, as of January 26, the total number of confirmed deaths in Iran has reached 6,126. Of these, 5,777 were protesters, 86 were children under the age of 18, 214 were forces affiliated with the government, and 49 were non-protesters or civilians. The number of deaths still under investigation stands at 17,091, according to the human rights group.
German MEP Hannah Neumann, the chair of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with Iran, addressed the assembly on January 26. "We're witnessing a systematic destruction of lives in Iran. The regime violently erases an entire generation of young people," she said.
US President Donald Trump told Axios in a January 26 interview that the situation with Iran is "in flux" because he sent a "big armada" to the region but thinks Tehran genuinely wants to cut a deal.
We are now closing the live blog for today. We'll be back again tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. Central European time to follow the latest developments in Iran.
Iran's Health Ministry Acknowledges Protesters' Fear Of Visiting Hospitals
An official from the Iranian Health Ministry has acknowledged that injured protesters are afraid to visit medical centers in the country following a brutal crackdown that has seen security forces targeting hospitals.
The Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, quoted the official, named as Hossein Kermanpour, head of public relations for the minstry, as saying on January 26 that protesters who were injured should not worry about seeking medical treatment.
"Our advice to people is that if they suffer any type of injury, they should not stay home and should not worry about visiting medical centers," the official was quoted as saying.
Kermanpour also claimed following this "announcement" by the Health Ministry, "more than 3,000 people who had suffered various types of injuries have recently visited medical centers."
In the recent round of widespread protests in Iran there have been multiple reports of security forces raiding hospitals to arrest protesters, which has led to a significant number of the injured preferring to stay at home despite their serious injuries.
Kermanpour also said that nearly 13,000 "surgeries have been performed on those injured in recent events."
CCTV Video Shows Woman Kicked And Beaten By Iranian Security Forces
Video footage has emerged on social media that appears to show a woman in Iran being kicked and beaten by security forces on January 8. More than 5,800 deaths in a brutal crackdown on nationwide protests have been verified, according to the US-based human rights agency HRANA. But one report indicates the real number may exceed 30,000. (WARNING: Viewers may find the content of this video disturbing)
Internet Blackout Costing Iran's Economy $36 Million A Day, Says Official
The ongoing Internet and telecommunications blackout across Iran is costing the Iranian economy as much as 50 trillion rials ($35.7 million) a day, according to an Iranian official.
In an article published on January 26, Communications Minister Sattar Hashemi was quoted by Etemad Online as saying, "Estimates show that the average resilience of Internet companies and businesses is about 20 days, and the country is approaching this point."
Hashemi did not specify his source for this estimate or the criteria for measuring the "resilience" of businesses against Internet shutdowns.
Ali Hakim Javadi, the head of the country's Computer Guild Organization, said on January 25 that the economic toll from the shutdown was between 20 trillion and 20 trillion rials a day.
Meanwhile, many business owners have spoken out on social media about the overwhelming pressure of this outage, and a significant number have reported the "destruction" of their businesses or having to file bankruptcy.
January 26 marks with the 18th day of Internet blackout in Iran, which the authorities instituted as part of their crackdown on mass protests that spread throughout the country. The wave of protests began at Tehran's bazaars on December 28 as a criticism of the economic situation.
The policies of the Islamic republic over the past three weeks have not only hindered people's ability to make money but have also led to the increased prices of basic goods.
Likelihood Of US Strikes On Iran 'Very High' Amid Military Buildup, Drills
The United States is deploying jet fighters, air defenses, and an air carrier with thousands of troops to the Middle East, in a move that has heightened tensions with Iran and increased the likelihood of military action, experts say.
US President Donald Trump threatened military strikes against Iran after the authorities killed thousands of people in a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests. Trump recently backed away, although he has not ruled out an attack on the Islamic republic.
Experts say the military buildup along with planned US naval exercises in the region increases the pressure on Iran and provides more offensive military options if Washington chooses to attack Iran.
"This can be a message to Iran that we're ready, our capabilities are in place," Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda.
To read the full report by RFE/RL's Kian Sharifi and Radio Farda, click here.
UAE Says It Won't Allow Its Airspace For Military Action Against Iran
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it will not allow its airspace, territory, or waters to be used for any military actions against Iran.
The Foreign Ministry's statement on January 26 comes after Washington said it was sending a "massive fleet" to the Middle East "just in case" following weeks of unrest in Iran. US President Donald Trump has said he'd "rather not see anything happen" but has also kept open the possibility of military intervention.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has reaffirmed the United Arab Emirates' commitment to not allowing its airspace, territory, or waters to be used in any hostile military actions against Iran, and to not providing any logistical support in this regard," the statement from the ministry said.
"The ministry reiterated the UAE's belief that dialogue, de-escalation, adherence to international law, and respect for state sovereignty constitute the most effective foundations for addressing current crises, underscoring the UAE's approach of resolving disputes through diplomatic means."
An X post today from Fox News's chief national security correspondent.
Sanctioned Iranian Banker Built Vast European Property Empire, FT Reports
Ali Ansari, an Iranian banker and businessman recently sanctioned by Britain, has built a European property empire worth about 400 million euros (around $435 million) over recent years, according to the Financial Times.
The London-based daily reports that Ansari, whose family founded the collapsed Ayandeh Bank, is accused by UK authorities of using this financial institution to channel funds to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
After the bank’s collapse late last year, Britain sanctioned Ansari for financing what it called “hostile activity” by the IRGC and froze London assets valued at more than £150 million (around $204 million).
The FT said the collapse of Ayandeh Bank exacerbated Iran’s economic downturn, helping fuel protests this month that culminated in the deadliest violence since the 1979 revolution, with thousands of people killed, according to human rights groups.
According to the newspaper, Ansari controls a portfolio of luxury properties through a network of shell companies spanning Luxembourg, St. Kitts and Nevis, Germany, Austria, and Spain.
The holdings include a 164-room hotel and golf resort in Mallorca valued at about 22 million euros (roughly $26 million), a stake in a hotel in the Austrian Alps, two Hilton hotels in Frankfurt each valued at about 80 million euros (around $94 million), and a shopping center in Germany worth roughly 68 million euros (about $80 million).
The report said Ansari holds Iranian, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Cypriot passports and is not currently under EU sanctions, though European officials say the bloc is considering further measures against Iran.
Ansari’s lawyer denied any financial links to the IRGC and said his client intends to challenge the UK sanctions.