Trump: Iran Wants To Make A Deal
US President Donald Trump said today he believed Iran wanted to make a deal to avoid military action, adding that he had set Tehran an undisclosed deadline to respond as US ships steam toward the region.
"I can say this, they do want to make a deal," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Asked if he had given a deadline, Trump said "Yeah I have," but said that "only they know for sure" what it was.
Regarding the possibility of a US attack on Iran, Trump said: "We have a large armada, flotilla -- you can call it whatever you want -- heading toward Iran right now, even larger than what we had in Venezuela."
Reformists Front Demands 'Fundamental' Changes To Save Iran
Reformists Front, a political alliance of reformist parties, has called for the formation of an independent fact-finding committee to investigate the authorities' bloody crackdown on protesters.
In a statement, the group says that the only way to save Iran is through "fundamental, immediate, and serious changes."
"Today, we can clearly say that a large portion of Iranian citizens have lost their trust in all the institutions and capacities that were supposed to protect, represent, and pursue their demands. And the Reformists Front and the reformist movement are no exception to this deep distrust."
The statement called on Iran's judiciary to refrain from hastily issuing verdicts against those detained by the authorities and to hold the Supreme National Security Council accountable "for the system's weakness and inability to protect the security and lives of citizens."
The Reformists Front also calls for:
- the provision of a safe space for civil protests as soon as possible,
- the issuance of permits for families of the victims to hold mourning ceremonies,
- the declaration of a public period of mourning for all victims of the crackdown.
Interview With A Tehran-Based Academic
RFE/RL spoke with Hatam Qaderi, a Tehran-based academic, about Iran’s bloody crackdown on mass protests, the prospect of US military action against Tehran, and a possible transition from the Islamic republic.
New US Sanctions On Iran
The United States has just issued fresh Iran and counter terrorism-related sanctions, targeting seven Iranian nationals and at least one entity, according to the US Treasury Department's website.
Iranian Medical Body Confirms Doctors Have Been Arrested
The Medical Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran has confirmed the arrest of a number of doctors during the government's crackdown on protesters.
Mohammad Mirkhani, deputy head of the medical council, said in an interview with Khabar Online: "In the recent protests, regardless of the reason and number of people, some doctors have been arrested."
He added that he does not have accurate statistics or clear information about the reasons for these arrests and that most information is obtained through informal conversations among colleagues.
Yesterday, Radio Farda spoke to one doctor, based outside Iran, who said that physicians inside the country have been arrested or threatened by security forces.
Araqchi Responds To EU's IRGC Terrorist Designation
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has said the EU has made "is now making another major strategic mistake" by designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a "terrorist organization."
Araqchi said the move was simply a "PR stunt" and that Europe was a continent "in severe decline."
Trump To Iran: Suspend Nuclear Program And Stop Killing Protesters
US President Donald Trump said on January 29 that he had asked Iranian officials in talks for two things: a suspended nuclear program and to stop killing protesters.
He was speaking to CBS News senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs.
Good morning.
There has been lots of comment from European leaders on the EU's decision yesterday to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola: "Designating the Iranian regime's oppressive IRGC as a terrorist organization is the right decision, [and one] that even a few weeks ago so many said was impossible. Proud of the European Parliament's sustained, unified effort that helped push this breakthrough. Now, time to stand strong. Iran will be free."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: "It is a clear signal against the brutal violence in Iran: The EU's classification of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization makes it clear: The peaceful Iranian demonstrators must not be silenced. We stand with them."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: "I welcome the political agreement on new sanctions against the murderous Iranian regime. And on the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist organization. This was long overdue. «Terrorist» is indeed how you call a regime that crushes its own people’s protests in blood. Europe stands with the people of Iran in their brave fight for freedom."
Over in the US, Iran’s former crown prince, Reza Pahlavi: "I welcome the EU’s decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. This important step sends a message to the criminal regime that it has no global legitimacy. We now need further concrete action to protect the Iranian people and to support a legitimate transitional government leading Iran to democracy.
According to the latest aggregated data compiled by HRANA, as of January 29, the total number of confirmed deaths has reached 6,479. Of these, 6,092 were protesters.
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 Internet Blackout Is Already Showing Cracks
Iran's Internet blackout, leveled at the height of mass protests against the regime, is still largely holding -- but the state is allowing some users, such as banks and other institutions, to reconnect.
