The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the fifth consecutive day of a nationwide internet shutdown in Iran, denouncing the blackout and the suspension of independent media as a deliberate assault on press freedom and the public’s right to information.
In a statement posted on its X account on Monday, the IFJ said that as the situation in Iran continues to deteriorate, journalists are being forced into silence because of the internet blackout and the resulting inability of independent media outlets to operate.
The IFJ said the shutdown has severely restricted journalists’ ability to report and has cut the public off from reliable information at a critical time.
NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring organisation, said on Monday, January 12, that the outage in Iran had exceeded 84 hours, with nationwide user connectivity remaining at just 1 percent of normal levels.
Iran’s foreign minister said Monday that the Islamic Republic is prepared both for war and for negotiations, responding to recent threats by US President Donald Trump amid escalating tensions and nationwide protests.
Abbas Araghchi said Iran is not seeking conflict but is fully prepared to defend itself. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is not seeking war, but it is fully prepared for war,” he said.
Speaking at a meeting attended by foreign ambassadors based in Tehran, Araghchi added that Iran remains open to diplomacy. “We are also ready for negotiations, but these talks must be fair, conducted on equal footing and based on mutual respect,” he said.
His remarks came after Donald Trump said Tehran was seeking dialogue with Washington and repeatedly warned of possible US military intervention.
Araghchi said nationwide protests in Iran had turned “violent and bloody” in recent days, claiming the unrest was being exploited to create a pretext for foreign intervention. He acknowledged that the level of violence had increased over the weekend.
Earlier, HRANA, a US-based Iranian human rights organisation, reported that at least 538 protesters had been killed since demonstrations began. Iranian authorities have not confirmed those figures.
The foreign minister blamed the bloodshed on Trump’s warnings of military action, saying they had provided a pretext for what he described as “terrorists” to attack both protesters and security forces in an effort to pave the way for foreign intervention.
Araghchi also claimed that Iranian authorities possess video footage showing weapons being distributed among protesters, though he provided no evidence to support the allegation. He said confessions by detainees would be released soon and that officials are “closely monitoring” developments on the streets.
However, videos circulating on social media show security forces firing at demonstrators, and witnesses say many protesters were killed by live ammunition.
As a nationwide internet shutdown continues and Trump has repeatedly threatened intervention, protests have entered their third week and remain widespread across Iran.
The Iranian government has declared three days of public mourning for members of the security forces killed during the unrest. The Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday that 109 security personnel had died.
Officials have not released an official toll for civilian deaths. Opposition activists abroad say the number of protesters killed is significantly higher and includes hundreds of demonstrators. The ongoing internet blackout has made independent verification of casualty figures difficult.
The United States is expected to carry out military strikes against Iran “in the coming weeks”, sources familiar with the matter told Iran International.
The sources said on Sunday, January 11, that large quantities of US military equipment have been transferred to the Middle East over the past week, with further deployments expected in the coming days.
According to the sources, Israel would take part in any such operation only after US action and only if the Islamic Republic attacks Israel or if there are clear indications of an imminent Iranian strike.
Donald Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect of intervention in Iran in recent days and has warned Iranian authorities against using force to suppress anti-government protests.
On January 10, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!”
Earlier, Reuters, citing three Israeli sources, reported that Israel had been placed on high alert as Iran faces its largest anti-government protests in years and amid growing speculation about possible US intervention.
Reuters also reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone on January 10, with the possibility of US intervention in Iran said to be the main focus of the conversation.
Neither Washington nor Tehran has officially commented on the reports. Tensions between the United States, Iran and Israel have risen sharply amid the protests and longstanding disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional activities.
Israel has been placed on a heightened state of alert as Iran faces its largest anti-government protests in years and amid the possibility of US intervention, Reuters reported, citing three Israeli sources.
According to the report published on Sunday, January 11, the sources, who attended Israeli security meetings in recent days, did not specify the reason for the increased level of readiness.
Donald Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect of US intervention in Iran in recent days and warned Islamic Republic officials against violently suppressing protesters.
On January 10, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!”
Protests erupted across Iran following a call by Reza Pahlavi on the evening of January 8. Shortly after demonstrations began, Iranian authorities imposed a nationwide internet shutdown.
Netanyahu, Rubio Discuss Iran
Reuters also reported, citing an Israeli official, that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone on January 10.
According to the report, the possibility of US intervention in Iran was the main focus of the conversation. A US official confirmed the call but declined to provide further details.
Despite the expanding protests, Israel has so far shown no indication that it intends to intervene directly in Iran.
Tensions between the two countries remain high, driven largely by Israel’s concerns over Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes, which Israeli officials have long described as a major security threat.
Iran’s prosecutor general has threatened detained protesters with harsh penalties, accusing them of serious crimes under Islamic law as authorities intensify their response to nationwide unrest.
Mohammad Movahedi-Azad said on Saturday that all detained protesters face the same charge, describing them as mohareb, a term under Iran’s Islamic Penal Code that denotes “enmity against God”.
“The charge against all rioters is the same,” Movahedi-Azad said, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency. “Whether those who assisted rioters and terrorists in acts of destruction and attacks on security and public property, or mercenaries who took up arms and created fear and terror among citizens, all offenders in this matter are mohareb.”
Under Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, moharebeh is defined as drawing a weapon with the intent to threaten people’s lives, property or honour, or to spread fear in a manner that causes public insecurity. The punishment, at a judge’s discretion, can include execution, crucifixion, amputation of the right hand and left foot, or internal exile.
Movahedi-Azad accused the protesters of “betraying the nation” and “creating insecurity”, and said their cases must be handled “without leniency, mercy or compromise”.
He also rejected any claim by detainees that they had been misled, saying that authorities had previously issued “necessary warnings about the enemy’s objectives”.
In separate remarks, the prosecutor general warned journalists, media activists and social media users to be cautious in their activities, signalling a broader clampdown on dissent and information sharing.
The comments come amid continued protests across Iran and growing concern from human rights groups over the use of severe charges and punishments against demonstrators.
Iran’s foreign minister said the overall situation in the country remains stable, despite ongoing economic pressure caused by international sanctions.
Abbas Araghchi said, “Overall, the situation in Iran is good,” while acknowledging that sanctions have created economic difficulties.
Araghchi claimed the United States and Israel had attempted to replicate in Iran what he said they carried out in Venezuela during a recent 12-day conflict, but were unsuccessful.
He was referring to a US operation early Saturday in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, during which President Nicolás Maduro was arrested and transferred to New York.
Araghchi’s comments also touched on the brief but intense 12-day confrontation between Iran and Israel, which eruptedk in June 2025. During the conflict, Israel carried out major airstrikes on Iranian nuclear, military and defence facilities, while Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel.
The United States provided military and intelligence support to Israel and participated in some strikes against Iranian targets, though the confrontation stopped short of escalating into a wider regional war.
Iranian officials have repeatedly accused Washington and its allies of seeking to destabilise the country, while Western governments cite Iran’s nuclear programme and regional activities as grounds for continued sanctions.
