Reports related to demonstrations and public protests
According to an Open Source Intel tweet by Bessent, former President Trump set multiple red lines for Iran, demanding they relinquish their highly enriched uranium and cease pursuing a nuclear weapon, while also asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that President Trump has made clear conditions for extending the 60-day ceasefire and continuing nuclear negotiations with Iran, including the need for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open, the transfer of highly enriched uranium, and halting Iran's nuclear program. When asked if these conditions would be non-negotiable, Bessent responded that there would be no agreement without them.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that Washington would not tolerate any efforts to establish a toll collection system in the Strait of Hormuz and stated that any party directly or indirectly involved in such projects would face aggressive actions from the U.S. Treasury Department.
President Trump declared that the U.S. is not dependent on oil or the Strait of Hormuz to continue pressure on the "terrorist regime" of the Islamic Republic. He stated, "We don’t need their oil. We don’t need the Strait. We need nothing from them."
On January 8 in Mashhad, new footage shows regime forces opening fire on unarmed protesters. The internet was subsequently shut down by the Islamic Republic to conceal the violence.
Elham Raisian, 39, was shot by Iranian security forces with three live bullets in Isfahan on January 18. The incident occurred as security forces fired upon civilians in the streets, with internet shutdowns initially aimed at concealing such events.
Following the latest round of clashes in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas, international betting markets now assign only a 42 percent probability to maritime traffic returning to normal conditions by June 30, 2026, according to data from the Polymarket platform.
According to Polymarket, there is a 50% chance of US military action against Cuba before December, as indicated by growing rumors and military movements suggesting potential intervention.
Iran's Fars News Agency reported that IRGC air defenses shot down an American MQ-9 drone in the Persian Gulf region early this morning, stating the drone had entered Iranian airspace.
Iran's Fars News Agency reported that the IRGC air defenses shot down an American MQ-9 drone in the Persian Gulf region early this morning, stating the drone had entered Iranian airspace.
U.S. Central Command clarifies that recent media reports claiming the U.S. Navy has resumed escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz are false; Project Freedom has not been reinstated, and U.S. forces are not currently providing such escort services.
According to Al Jazeera, explosions were reported in Iran, and an IRGC naval boat fired at a US vessel, prompting US Air Force planes to target several small boats; the situation remains ongoing.
