Iran has vowed severe punishment against former US president Donald Trump as tensions escalate following nationwide protests, while Israel’s military signalled it is prepared for war if threatened.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it is ready to activate offensive capabilities of unprecedented scale and is preparing for the possibility of a surprise conflict, underscoring mounting regional instability.
Inside Iran, a near-total internet blackout has entered its 12th day, according to NetBlocks, with national connectivity still minimal. Authorities appear to be testing a tightly restricted intranet that allows limited messages to pass intermittently.
Iranian officials confirmed that demonstrators were shot near Basij militia bases and police facilities, adding that final casualty figures would be released later. Authorities warned protesters of harsh punishments, including moharebeh charges — “waging war against God” — which can carry the death penalty. Former detainees have reported abuse in custody, including injections of unknown substances.
Iran International reported that newly obtained information indicates the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and allied proxy groups played a central role in the killing of protesters.
The unrest began on December 28 over economic grievances before evolving into calls for the downfall of Iran’s nearly five-decade-old theocratic system. Security forces responded with what observers describe as the bloodiest crackdown since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, using live ammunition and denying medical care to the wounded.
International pressure on Tehran has intensified. European lawmakers urged action over protest-related executions, while US senators called for tougher measures against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s rule and criticised moves seen as legitimising Tehran, including an invitation for Iran’s foreign minister to attend the Davos forum.
Iran blamed the United States for rising tensions as cyberattacks disrupted state television satellite channels and Meta restricted the visibility of some Instagram content inside Iran. Meanwhile, rallies by the Iranian diaspora continued across Europe and North America.
Iranian activists are urging Washington to approve direct-to-cell satellite internet services, arguing that US authorisation of American satellite firms could provide millions of Iranians with secure access to the internet without relying on state-controlled infrastructure.
Cybersecurity firm Check Point Research said the Iran-linked “Handala Hack” group resurfaced during the blackout and is routing attacks through Starlink IP ranges to target sites across the Middle East.
Former CIA director and retired US Army General David Petraeus said the severity of the crackdown points to a regime under existential strain, arguing Iran is facing pressure unmatched since the Iran-Iraq war.
Source: Iran International
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
