Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “confused clown” in response to Zelensky’s claim that Iran’s government kills civilians to stay in power. The remarks were made in a post on social media platform X, according to NDTV, on January 25, 2026.

Araghchi accused Zelensky of using U.S. and European taxpayers’ money to enrich himself and corrupt generals in his army. He wrote that Iranians know how to defend themselves and do not need to beg foreigners for help. Araghchi further alleged that Zelensky was exploiting the “illegal aggression” against Ukraine as an excuse to misuse Western funds while simultaneously calling for U.S. military attacks on Iran, which he said would violate the same UN Charter.

Addressing Zelensky directly, Araghchi said the world is tired of “confused clowns” like him and contrasted Iran’s self-reliance with what he described as Ukraine’s foreign-backed forces.

Iran’s Telecommunications Infrastructure Company chief Behzad Akbari announced that internet services across the country will be restored “today or tomorrow.” The Fars news agency reported the statement on Saturday, citing domestic media. According to AFP, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council approved the reconnection late Friday and informed the Ministry of Communications. Akbari said the issue would be resolved soon, though technical complications may delay full restoration.

Fars noted that international internet access briefly returned for about 30 minutes before being cut off again, a development also recorded by monitoring group NetBlocks. Officials from the communications ministry said technical issues were hindering complete reconnection. Iran had severed its digital links with the world on January 8 following widespread protests, during which authorities launched a harsh crackdown. Human rights groups reported thousands of deaths, while the government claimed 3,117 fatalities, including 2,427 labeled as “martyrs.”

Yusuf Pezeshkian, presidential adviser and son of President Masoud Pezeshkian, urged the government to restore internet access, warning that prolonged shutdowns would deepen public dissatisfaction and widen the gap between citizens and the state.

Yusuf Pezeshkian, son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and a government adviser, has urged an end to the nationwide internet shutdown that has lasted for weeks. In a Telegram post published by the state news agency IRNA on Saturday, he warned that keeping the internet blocked for more than two weeks would increase public dissatisfaction with the government. He argued that the harm caused by the shutdown outweighs the risk of renewed protests once access is restored.

Iran has been facing widespread protests since early January, leading authorities to cut off internet access for nearly 90 million people since January 8. Human rights groups report that many have been killed in security crackdowns, with the Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization claiming the death toll may exceed 25,000. The Iranian government, however, reports 3,117 deaths, including 2,427 identified as “martyrs,” and labels others as rioters influenced by the United States and Israel.

Yusuf Pezeshkian criticized the justification for the shutdown, saying that fear of protest videos being shared is not a valid reason. He acknowledged possible mistakes by security forces and called for accountability.

Several leading international airlines have suspended flights across the Middle East following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that a powerful American naval armada is heading toward Iran. The move comes amid growing fears of a possible military confrontation between the United States and Iran. Airlines including KLM, Lufthansa, and Air France have temporarily halted services to key destinations in the region.

According to NDTV, the cancellations have severely disrupted air connectivity to major hubs such as Israel, Dubai, and Riyadh. Air France announced that its Dubai-bound flights on July 23 and 24 would not operate due to the current situation. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has indefinitely suspended flights to Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam, and Tel Aviv, rerouting aircraft to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, and several Gulf countries. United Airways and Air Canada have also stopped flights to Israel amid concerns of a potential U.S. strike on Iran.

The White House stated that Tehran’s decision to suspend executions of protesters has not altered Washington’s military planning, further intensifying regional tensions.

Iran has warned that any attack against it will be treated as an all-out war. The statement came from a senior Iranian official in response to the movement of a large US naval fleet toward the Gulf region. The unnamed official said Iran is fully prepared for any situation and remains on maximum alert.

The warning followed remarks by US President Donald Trump, who told reporters aboard Air Force One that a massive naval fleet was advancing toward the Gulf to monitor Iran. The Iranian official expressed hope that the deployment was not intended to provoke conflict but emphasized that the Iranian military was ready for the worst-case scenario.

The official added that any violation of Iran’s sovereignty or territorial integrity by the United States would be met with a strong response. He declined to specify what form that response might take but said Iran would use maximum force to repel any attack.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander General Mohammad Pakpour has warned the United States and Israel against taking any action against Iran. In a statement broadcast on state television during Iran’s National Day, Pakpour said Iranian forces have their “finger on the trigger” and are fully prepared to follow the orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. He urged Washington and Tel Aviv to learn from the experience of a 12-day imposed war against Iran.

Pakpour emphasized that lessons from past conflicts should deter the US and Israel from making what he called “wrong moves” that could lead to painful consequences. His remarks came amid heightened tensions following last June’s Israeli attack on Tehran, which targeted Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The United States later joined Israel in that operation, and US President Trump has since kept open the option of further military action against Iran.

The warning underscores Iran’s continued military readiness and signals its intent to respond strongly to any renewed aggression by the US or Israel.

Iran has officially released the death toll from recent anti-government protests for the first time. According to a report by state television Press TV on Wednesday, citing the Interior Ministry, a total of 3,117 people were killed across the country. The Martyrs Foundation stated that among the dead were 2,427 civilians and members of the security forces. Tehran described the protests as 'foreign-backed terrorist activities.'

Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, told Press TV that those who engaged in violence, including attacks on government and military facilities, were classified as 'terrorist-rioters.' Meanwhile, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported a higher death toll of 4,560 since the protests began.

The demonstrations started on December 28 in response to rising living costs and severe inflation, spreading across the country in the following weeks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that Iran will respond with maximum force if attacked by the United States. The warning came in an opinion column published Tuesday in The Wall Street Journal, as reported by Al Jazeera. Araghchi emphasized that Iran’s armed forces would not hesitate to retaliate with all available means if faced with a new assault, referencing last June’s Israeli attack on Iran.

The statement followed remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he had already ordered Iran’s destruction if the country attempted to kill him. Araghchi clarified that his warning was not a threat but a statement of reality, adding that as a diplomat and veteran soldier, he despises war. He cautioned that a full-scale conflict would be devastating, lasting far longer than what Israel and its allies in the White House might imagine, and would harm the broader region and civilians worldwide.

Last week, Iran reportedly closed its airspace, possibly fearing a U.S. strike, while Gulf Arab diplomats urged Trump to refrain from attacking Iran.

Iranian authorities have initiated the punishment process for individuals detained during recent anti-government protests across the country. Judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei announced on January 19 that judicial operations have been intensified, warning that leniency toward those deemed undeserving would contradict justice. The government has also restricted internet access nationwide, citing security concerns, after briefly restoring partial connectivity the previous day.

Mohseni-Ejei met with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf before issuing a joint statement pledging strict action against what they called 'murderous and terrorist instigators.' However, they said protesters misled by foreign powers might receive 'Islamic compassion.' Iranian officials again accused the United States and Israel of funding and arming demonstrators. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that several thousand people were killed in the unrest but attributed the deaths to agents linked to foreign powers rather than state forces.

The protests began on December 28 in Tehran’s downtown commercial district and have led to the arrest or detention of more than 10,000 people, according to estimates cited in the report. Authorities continue to release new arrest data daily.

Iranian authorities have issued a three-day ultimatum for citizens involved in recent anti-government protests to surrender. National Police Chief Ahmad-Reza Radan announced on state television that those who participated in what the government calls “riots” would be treated leniently if they turn themselves in within the given timeframe. He described the young participants as “deceived individuals” rather than enemy soldiers and said the Islamic Republic would show flexibility toward them.

The protests, which began in late December over economic hardship, quickly evolved into one of the biggest challenges to Iran’s leadership. Human rights organizations claim thousands were killed during violent crackdowns, while Iranian officials argue that the initially peaceful demonstrations were later fueled by the United States and Israel to destabilize the country. Tasnim News Agency reported around 3,000 arrests, though rights groups estimate the number could reach 20,000.

The ultimatum follows a stern warning from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who urged authorities to crush “traitors” and ensure no domestic or foreign offenders escape punishment, further intensifying Iran’s political and social unrest.

After ten days of nationwide disconnection, Iran briefly restored limited internet access before shutting it down again, according to monitoring group NetBlocks. The group reported that minimal connectivity returned to some Google and messaging services but quickly dropped. The blackout began on January 8 following widespread protests over economic hardship. Human rights groups accused the government of using the shutdown to conceal mass killings during security crackdowns.

AFP reported that while authorities claimed calm had returned, armored vehicles and patrols were still visible in Tehran. U.S. President Donald Trump’s remark that it was “time for new leadership in Iran” heightened tensions, prompting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to warn that any attack on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be treated as a declaration of war. The government said it had recommended lifting the internet ban, but the CEO of mobile operator Irancell was dismissed for failing to enforce the shutdown.

Amnesty International said verified evidence showed widespread killings by security forces, while Iran Human Rights confirmed 3,428 protester deaths. Opposition channel Iran International claimed over 12,000 deaths, though none of these figures were independently verified.

At least 5,000 people have been killed in ongoing anti-government protests and violence across Iran, according to the country's authorities. Among the dead are about 500 members of the security forces, a government official told Reuters. The official, who requested anonymity, blamed the deaths of 'innocent' Iranians on 'terrorists and armed rioters.' The most severe clashes and highest casualties reportedly occurred in the Kurdish-populated northwestern regions, where separatist groups are active.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) earlier reported a lower confirmed death toll of 3,308, with an additional 4,382 deaths still under verification. HRANA also stated that more than 24,000 people have been arrested during the unrest. The differing figures highlight the difficulty of obtaining accurate casualty data amid widespread violence and restricted information flow.

The situation remains tense, particularly in Kurdish areas, which have historically experienced intense unrest during periods of political instability.

Digital rights activists have warned that Iran’s government is advancing plans to permanently disconnect the country from the global internet. According to a report by the censorship-monitoring group Filterwatch, only a small, government-approved group will be allowed limited access to international networks, while the general public will be restricted to a domestic “national internet” isolated from the global web. Filterwatch chief Amir Rashidi described the system as a state-controlled parallel network containing only government-approved search engines, messaging apps, and streaming services.

Activists allege that Chinese technology and Huawei equipment are being used to build this surveillance and censorship infrastructure, enabling authorities to monitor and block internet traffic. Since January 8, Iran has faced one of its longest internet blackouts, lasting over 200 hours, surpassing Egypt’s 2011 shutdown. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani suggested the restrictions could continue until March 20, coinciding with the Nowruz holiday.

Analysts cited by The Guardian said the move reflects a decade-and-a-half of planning since the 2009 protests, when Iran began developing its domestic internet system. A 2025 law now criminalizes possession of Starlink terminals, with penalties up to death, as authorities use Russian and Chinese jammers to block satellite signals.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for an end to the rule of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying it is time for new leadership in the country. Trump made the remarks on Saturday after Khamenei accused him of being responsible for deaths during recent protests in Iran. The comments came in response to a post by Khamenei on social media platform X, where the Iranian leader labeled Trump a criminal and alleged that he incited unrest in Iran.

Trump said Iran’s rulers depend on repression and violence to maintain control, claiming that Khamenei’s leadership has led to the country’s destruction and unprecedented levels of brutality. He added that a national leader should focus on governing properly rather than killing people, emphasizing that leadership should be based on respect, not fear and death.

Trump further described Khamenei as an unhealthy person who should stop the killings and manage the country responsibly. He asserted that poor leadership has made Iran one of the most unlivable nations in the world.

More than 3,000 people have been killed in nationwide protests across Iran, according to the US-based human rights group HANA, which confirmed 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 protesters. The demonstrations began on December 28 over economic hardship and quickly spread across the country. After eight days of a near-total internet blackout, online activity has shown a slight increase, with connectivity reaching only about 2 percent of normal levels.

Residents reported that the crackdown has largely halted protests, and state media continues to report new arrests. In Tehran, the capital, the situation has remained relatively calm for four consecutive days, with drones observed flying over the city but no major demonstrations on Thursday or Friday. A resident from a northern Caspian Sea city also described local streets as quiet.

NetBlocks, an internet monitoring group, said connectivity began to recover slightly on Saturday morning after roughly 200 hours of shutdown. Some Iranians living abroad reported being able to send messages to users inside Iran for the first time since the blackout began.