A mural depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the late Iranian Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in Tehran on January 16, 2026. © Majid Asgari via Reuters

Live: At least 5,000 people have been killed during Iran's nationwide protests, official says

· France 24

 

18/01/2026 - 16:42

Attack on Khamenei would be 'tantamount to all-out war', Iran's president says

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said that in a post on X that any attack on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be "tantamount to all-out war".

 

US President Donald Trump told US News site Politico on Saturday that it was "time to look for new leadership in Iran", calling Khamenei "a sick man".

18/01/2026 - 16:03

Activists warn Iran's internet shutdown could be 'permanent'

Iran is 10 days into an internet blackout that rights groups say is intended to prevent further protests and conceal the regime's deadly crackdown.

What happens now is unclear. While Iranian digital activists are warning the blackout may become "permanent", local media are reporting that the authorities are considering a gradual return to the internet.

FRANCE 24's technology editor Peter O'Brien unpacks what we know.

18/01/2026 - 13:54

Arrested protester Erfan Soltani is alive, family says (FRANCE 24)

26-year-old protester Erfan Soltani is alive. Iranian authorities said on January 15 that he would not be sentenced to death, although his family had feared the worst.

FRANCE 24 has been able to contact Soltani’s relatives, who have since been allowed to visit him in prison.

18/01/2026 - 12:27
18/01/2026 - 11:53

Tehran considers 'gradually' restoring internet access, Iranian news agency says

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 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, and text messaging was restored Saturday morning. 

Late Saturday, 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. 

18/01/2026 - 10:51

Watch more: Iranian women on the frontline

Women activists and youth campaigners are at the forefront of the struggle, seeking to chart a new course for the nation after decades of repressive rule under the Islamic Republic. 

18/01/2026 - 10:22

18/01/2026 - 10:22

At least 5,000 people have been killed in Iran protests, official says

An Iranian ‍official in the ​region said on Sunday the authorities had verified at ⁠least 5,000 people had been killed in protests in Iran, including about 500 security personnel, blaming "terrorists and armed rioters" ​for killing "innocent Iranians".

The official, who declined to ‍be named due to the sensitivity of the issue, also told Reuters ​some of the heaviest clashes and highest number ​of deaths were in the Iranian Kurdish areas in northwest Iran, a region where Kurdish separatists have been active and where flare-ups have been among the most violent in past periods of unrest.

 

Yesterday's key developments:

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters and AP)