US Central Command Urges IRGC To 'Avoid Escalatory Behavior'
In response to Iran's announcement that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) would be conducting a live-fire naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has urged the IRGC to prioritize safety and "avoiding unnecessary risk."
The two-day exercise is scheduled to begin on February 1.
CENTCOM "urges the IRGC to conduct the announced naval exercise in a manner that is safe, professional and avoids unnecessary risk to freedom of navigation for international maritime traffic," the Central Command wrote in a statement on X on January 30. "The Strait of Hormuz is an international sea passage and an essential trade corridor that supports regional economic prosperity."
It added that "roughly 100 of the world’s merchant vessels" use the narrow straight for commerce on a daily basis.
While CENTCOM acknowledged Iran's right to "operate professionally in international airspace and waters," it warned that "any unsafe and unprofessional behavior near US forces, regional partners or commercial vessels increases risks of collision, escalation, and destabilization."
NetBlocks: 22 Days Into Blackout, Internet Still Restricted And Heavily Filtered
Internet monitor Netblocks wrote in a report on the evening of January 30 that the Internet in Iran is still heavily filtered and restricted, 22 full days after the nationwide blackout began.
According to the report, Internet access in Iran is only possible based on a "white list" and intermittent disconnections and connections, minimizing Iranians' contact with the outside world.
According to NetBlocks, networks inside Iran are visible from the outside but are effectively locked and widely blocked for most users inside the country.
The Internet in Iran has been cut off since January 8, coinciding with the spread of protesters on the streets.
We are now closing the live blog for the day. We'll be back again at 9:30 a.m. Central European time to follow the latest developments in Iran.
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.