Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday (February 1, 2026) warned that any U.S. strike on the country would become a regional war even as Tehran and Washington confirmed that talks are progressing between the two sides amid regional efforts to de-escalate tensions.

“The Americans should know if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war,” said Mr. Khamenei while addressing a gathering at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Hussainiya, which is part of the Office of the Supreme Leader. “We are not the initiators of war. We do not seek to oppress anyone. We do not seek to attack any country. However, anyone who seeks to attack or cause harm will face a decisive blow from the Iranian nation,” said Mr. Khamenei.

His comments, which were also posted on social media, came at a time when the U.S. has sent warships, fighter jets and an aircraft carrier to West Asia’s waters amid threats of a strike on Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump said last week that “time was running our for Iran” to make a deal over its nuclear programme, adding that “a massive armada” was heading towards Iran and that it was “ready to use violence” if necessary.

Mr. Khamenei appeared to play down Mr. Trump’s threats and U.S. troops mobilisation near Iran’s shores. “That Americans sometimes talk about war – saying we will come with warships and aircraft – is nothing new. The Iranian nation is not affected by such talks. They shouldn’t try to intimidate the Iranian nation with such things,” he added.

Iranian officials in recent days had warned that any U.S. attack on Iran would not be a limited war. But at the same time, Tehran has also signalled that it was still open for diplomacy. Earlier on Sunday (February 1, 2026), Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, said talks were progressing between the two sides. “Contrary to the hype of the contrived media war, structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing,” Mr. Larijani, an influential figure in Tehran who met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on January 30, wrote on social media.

U.S. President Trump also confirmed that talks were on. “They are talking to us. Seriously talking to us,” Mr. Trump told reporters in Washington on Sunday.

Regional countries Oman, Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia were pushing for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Turkey has stated that it would not support any military action against Iran. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, two American allies in the Persian Gulf, have ruled out letting their air space be used for a strike against Iran. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met Mr. Larijani in Tehran on Saturday (January 31, 2026) to discuss “efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region”.

The Prime Minister reiterated Qatar’s “support for all efforts aimed at reducing tensions and achieving peaceful solutions that enhance security and stability in the region”, the Ministry said.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was in Turkey to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on January 29, said Iran was open for a “fair and equitable” nuclear deal.

“Iran has never sought nuclear weapons and is ready to embrace a fair and equitable nuclear deal that meets the legitimate interests of our people; this includes ensuring ‘No Nuclear Weapons’ and guaranteeing the lifting of sanctions,” Mr. Araghchi wrote in social media after meeting Mr. Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. “Iran always stands ready to engage with regional states to protect peace and stability in our region and shield it from unlawful aggression,” he added.

Iran may lift its internet blackout in a few ‍days, a senior Parliament member said on Monday (January 19, 2026), after authorities shut communications while they used massive force to crush ​protests in the worst domestic unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In the latest sign ‌of weakness in the authorities’ control, state television appeared to be hacked late ​on Sunday, briefly showing speeches by U.S. President Donald Trump and the son of Iran’s deposed shah calling on the public to revolt.

Iran’s streets have largely been quiet for a week, authorities and social media posts indicated, since anti-government protests that began in late December were put down in three days of mass violence.

An Iranian official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the confirmed death toll was more than 5,000, including 500 members of the security forces, with some of ​the worst unrest taking place in ethnic Kurdish areas in the northwest. Western-based Iranian rights ⁠groups also say thousands were killed.

Iranian authorities have said they are considering “gradually” restoring internet access after imposing a sweeping communications shutdown across the country more than a week ago, local media reported.

On Sunday (January 18, 2026) morning, AFP was able to connect to the internet from its Tehran office, though the vast majority of internet providers and mobile internet remain cut.

It was not immediately clear why the limited connection was possible.

Outgoing international calls have been possible since Tuesday (January 13, 2026) , and text messaging was restored Saturday (January 17, 2026) morning.

Late Saturday (January 10, 2026), the Tasnim news agency reported “the relevant authorities announced that internet access would also be gradually restored”, but gave no further details.

Citing an unnamed “informed source”, the agency said local messaging applications “will soon be activated” on Iran’s domestic intranet.

The unprecedented communications blackout was imposed as calls proliferated for anti-government demonstrations initially triggered by the country’s economic malaise.

For days, text messages and international phone calls — and at times even local calls — were cut off.

Iran has since been relying on its intranet, which has supported local media websites, ride-hailing apps, delivery service and banking platforms.

State television has since Saturday (January 17, 2026) been promoting local messaging applications including Rubika — which was largely unavailable earlier this week.

Even before the blackout, popular applications such as Instagram, Facebook, X, Telegram and YouTube had been blocked in Iran for years, requiring VPN connections to bypass the restrictions.

The protests, which began on December 28, 2025, have been widely seen as the biggest challenge to the Iranian leadership since the months-long demonstrations that followed the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini.

But the latest demonstrations appear to have subsided in recent days.

Iranian officials have not given an exact death toll for the protests, but Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR) reported that 3,428 people were verified to have been killed by security forces, while warning the actual toll could be several times higher.

Other estimates place the toll at more than 5,000 — and possibly as high as 20,000, IHR said.

The opposition Iran International channel based outside the country has said at least 12,000 people were killed during the protests, citing senior government and security sources.

Iran’s judiciary has completely rejected that figure.

Iranian officials have said the demonstrations were peaceful before turning into “riots” that included vandalism of public property.

Authorities have blamed foreign influence, namely from Iran’s foes the United States and Israel.

On Saturday (January 17, 2026), supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said “a few thousand” people had been killed by what he called “agents” of the two countries who instigated the unrest.

Iran’s ‍supreme ​leader Ali Khamenei said ‌on ​Saturday (January 17, 2026) that Iran considers U.S. President ​Donald Trump a “criminal” ⁠for inflicting casualties, damage, ​and ⁠slander on the Iranian people ‌during the ‌protests.

“The latest anti-Iran ‍sedition was ‍different in that the U.S. President personally became ⁠involved,” Iranian media ​quoted Mr. Khamenei as ⁠saying.

India is preparing to evacuate its citizens from Iran in view of the ongoing protests, official sources said on Thursday (January 15, 2026). MEA sources have told The Hindu that the Embassy of India in Tehran have started reaching out to Indian citizens to figure out the scale of the logistical exercise that would be required to fly multiple airlift sorties between India and Iran.

Iran protests LIVE on January 15, 2026

The plans for evacuation were started after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi discussed the evolving situation over a phone call on Wednesday (January 14, 2026). Indian citizens, consisting of students, pilgrims and business professionals, are concentrated in large urban centres of Iran like Qom, Tehran and Esfahan and other urban centres scattered across Iran.

Coordination in the current circumstances is challenging as Iran continues to black out internet services across its territory making communication between the Indian embassy and citizens. However, some Indian citizens especially students have been able to remain online as understandably they are able to access the internet services of neighbouring countries like Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Officials, however, cautioned that evacuation in the prevailing situation remains challenging as it would require support of the Iranian security services that are currently stretched thin in dealing with domestic law and order challenges related to the uprising.

Indian officials cautioned against rumours in this context, as the movement of a large number of people through protest-prone areas may be risky. Iran had temporarily closed its airspace on Wednesday (January 14, 2026), but reopened it on Thursday (January 15, 2026), which has increased the chances of India sending aircraft to Tehran. However, the operation would require considerable support from the Iranian side, officials here suggested.

The United States on Thursday (January 15, 2026) imposed sanctions on five Iranian officials it accused of ‍being behind the crackdown on protests and warned it was tracking ​Iranian leaders’ funds being wired to banks around ‌the world, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration ​increases pressure on Tehran.

Iran protests LIVE on January 15

The U.S. Treasury Department in a statement said it imposed sanctions on the Secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security as well as Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and law enforcement forces commanders, accusing them of being architects of the crackdown.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in a ​video on Thursday (January 15, 2026), said Washington’s message to Iran’s leaders ⁠was clear: “U.S. Treasury knows, that like rats on a sinking ship, you are frantically wiring funds stolen from Iranian families to banks and financial institutions around ​the world. Rest assured, ⁠we will track them and you.”

“But there’s still time, if you choose to join us. As President Trump has said, stop the violence and stand with the people of ‌Iran.”

The unrest in Iran started with protests over ‌soaring prices before turning into one of the biggest challenges to the clerical establishment since the ‍1979 Islamic Revolution. The U.S.-based HRANA rights group says it has so far verified the deaths of 2,435 protesters and 153 ‍government-affiliated individuals. Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene on behalf of protesters in Iran, where the clerical establishment has cracked down hard on nationwide unrest since December 28.

“The United States stands firmly behind the Iranian people in their call for freedom and justice,” Mr. Bessent said in the statement.

“Treasury will use every tool to target those behind the regime’s tyrannical oppression of human ⁠rights.”

The Treasury also imposed sanctions on 18 people it accused of involvement in laundering the proceeds ​of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical sales to foreign markets as part ⁠of “shadow banking” networks of sanctioned Iranian financial institutions.

Thursday’s (January 15, 2026) action is the latest move targeting Tehran since Mr. Trump restored his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran, which includes efforts to drive its oil exports to zero and help prevent Tehran ⁠from developing a nuclear weapon.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday (January 15, 2026) appointed a nodal officer to coordinate with the Centre and diplomatic authorities for the safety and possible evacuation of residents and students from the Union Territory stranded in Iran amid the prevailing tension there.

In a related development, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) claimed that the first batch of students is likely to return to India on Friday (January 16, 2026).

According to a government order issued by the General Administration Department, Additional Resident Commissioner Anil Sharma has been designated as the officer for coordination and liaison in respect of residents and students of Jammu and Kashmir presently residing or studying in Iran.

The officer has been tasked with coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India, the concerned Indian embassy and consular authorities, and other relevant agencies to facilitate information sharing, coordination and necessary interventions relating to the safety, welfare, travel facilitation and related matters of students from the Union Territory.

The great reckoning: On the crises in Iran

The appointment comes amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation in Iran following widespread protests and rising fears of further escalation, prompting concerns among families of Indian students, particularly those from Kashmir.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday (January 15, 2026) said he spoke to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar regarding the evolving situation in Iran and was assured that all necessary steps were being taken to safeguard the interests of students from Jammu and Kashmir caught in the turmoil.

India has already advised its nationals residing in Iran to leave the country by available means and avoid any further travel there.

Meanwhile, the JKSA said Iran has reopened its airspace to civilian traffic after a temporary closure, bringing a measure of relief to anxious students and their families. The association claimed that the first evacuation flight from Tehran to Delhi is scheduled to depart on Friday (January 16, 2026).

“All students have been duly registered, the Indian embassy has collected their personal details and passports, and the first batch has been informed to remain ready by 8 a.m.,” the JKSA said in a statement.

It further said students from Golestan University, along with a few students from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, are likely to be part of the first evacuation batch.

The final passenger list is expected to be shared later on Thursday (January 15, 2026) once confirmed by the authorities, it said.

The JKSA said it has been in touch with several Indian students, including those from Kashmir, studying in Shiraz, Arak and other cities in Iran, many of whom have booked tickets and are expected to arrive from Friday (January 16, 2026) onwards, subject to clearances from the Iranian government and the prevailing security situation.

Parents of Kashmiri students have also appealed to the Centre to ensure the safe return of their children, with several concerned families gathering at the Press Enclave in Srinagar on Wednesday (January 14, 2026) to seek immediate government intervention.

Air India said in a statement on Thursday (January 15, 2026) that flights overflying Iran may lead to delays as they are using an alternative route due to closure of Iran’s airspace, following tensions in Iran and anti-government protest over the economic crisis.

“Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace, and in view of the safety of our passengers, Air India flights overflying the region are now using an alternative routing, which may lead to delays,” the airline said in its statement.

Protests sparked by traders’ strike over hyperinflation and the falling currency have spread nationwide and turned violent in Iran at the beginning of January. About 2,000 people have so far been killed in protests across Iran, an Iranian official said on Tuesday (January 13, 2026). 

It also added that some Air India flights where currently rerouting is not possible are being cancelled.

It has requested passengers to check the status of their flights on Air India’s website.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday (January 14, 2026) spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and discussed the current unrest in Iran as well as the growing regional tensions in West Asia.

The conversation took place hours after the Ministry of External Affairs “strongly advised” Indian citizens to avoid travelling to Iran “until further notice”.

At the same time, the Embassy of India in Tehran urged Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin to leave the country by any available means of transport, including commercial airlines, and asked their India-based family members to register them on the embassy helpline page.

At least 17 Flydubai flights scheduled ​for Friday (January 9, 2026) between Dubai and ‌Iranian cities including Tehran, ​Shiraz and Mashhad have been cancelled, the Dubai Airports website showed.

A countrywide internet blackout was reported in Iran on Thursday and extended into ​Friday (January 9, 2026) as authorities moved to ⁠curb expanding protests.

Nationwide protests over economic hardships started at the end of ​December, and have ⁠shaken the country.

A Flydubai spokesperson said that flights to Iran on Friday (January 9, 2026) had been ‌cancelled and that the ‌airline “will continue to monitor the situation” and revise ‍its flight schedule accordingly, without giving a reason for the ‍disruption.

In addition, Turkish media have said Turkish Airlines cancelled 17 flights, Turkey’s Ajet cancelled six flights and budget carrier Pegasus Airlines cancelled flights to Iranian cities on Friday.

At least ⁠two flights between Qatar’s Doha and Tehran scheduled for ​Friday (January 9, 2026) were also cancelled, Hamad ⁠International Airport website showed.