Chaos reigns in Iran as protests that began on December 28 as demonstrations against economic conditions are rapidly escalating. At least 116 people have lost their lives in the largest demonstrations the country has seen in recent years, while new video released by Iran International captures gunfire being heard as citizens take to the streets of Tehran. Meanwhile, gunfire reportedly occurred on Friday (09/01) near the 126th police station in the Tehranpars area on January 9. It should be noted that Donald Trump reiterated yesterday that the US is “ready to help” Iranian protesters, while he has repeatedly threatened in recent days to intervene in Iran and has warned the country’s leaders against using violence against protesters. However, Iran’s parliament speaker warned the US that Israel and American bases would become “legitimate targets” in case of intervention in the country.
🚨 Iran Protests: Simay Azadi EXCLUSIVE – Heavy Gunfire in Tehranpars, January 9
Footage obtained exclusively by Simay Azadi reveals a war zone around Police Station 126 in the eastern part of the capital.
Amidst the relentless rattle of automatic fire from the regime’s SSF… pic.twitter.com/u6NQKhiul4— SIMAY AZADI TV (@en_simayazadi) January 10, 2026
Security forces opened fire on protesters in Tehranpars district, east of the capital, on Saturday night, a video obtained by Iran International shows. pic.twitter.com/Ekwz9AHPbk
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) January 10, 2026
Read: Iran protests: White House considers air campaign – Critical next hours (Video)
Iran threatens to retaliate against potential US attack
Tehran responded to these statements on Sunday (11/01), declaring readiness to retaliate against any US attack against Iran by targeting Israel and American bases. Meanwhile, Israeli sources report that Israel has been placed on high alert in anticipation of potential American intervention.
It should be recalled that the mobilizations in Iran erupted on December 28 in Tehran as a reaction to high inflation and poor economic conditions. They have now spread to other cities, taking on a political dimension, while riots and clashes have occurred between protesters and law enforcement forces. Iranian authorities accuse the US and Israel of stoking the unrest.
Iran’s 5th-largest city Shiraz has seen some of the fiercest clashes between anti-regime protesters and the regime’s security forces during the recent wave of strikes & protests.
Videos from last night show that the people of Shiraz are still fighting the regime in large numbers pic.twitter.com/eATVuCmLE4
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 11, 2026
RISKING THEIR LIVES: New video from inside Iran shows massive crowds cheering and marching through the streets of Tehran in spite of a growing crackdown from the hardline Islamist regime.
At least 65 protesters have reportedly been killed since demonstrations began two weeks… pic.twitter.com/wlUTUpkDU4
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 10, 2026
Tehran: Israel and American bases are “legitimate targets”
Furthermore today, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, addressing lawmakers, warned the US “not to make miscalculations.” “Let’s be clear: in case of an attack against Iran, the occupied territories (i.e., Israel), as well as all American bases and ships will be our legitimate targets,” Qalibaf emphasized.
Meanwhile, police announced they have proceeded with the arrest of key figures in the protest movement. “Significant arrests were made” last Saturday night “of the main elements involved in the riots and, God willing, they will be punished after the completion of legal procedures,” declared national police chief Ahmad Reza Radan on state television. He did not specify the number or identity of those arrested.
Country without internet
Three Israeli sources had pointed out earlier that Israel has been placed in a state of high alert, although they did not clarify what this means practically. A spokesperson for the Israeli government declined to comment, while the military has not yet responded to a related request.
Information coming from Iran is limited as the country has had internet access cut off since Thursday and continues for more than 60 hours, as reported on X by the cybersecurity monitoring NGO Netblocks. The NGO estimated that “this censorship measure poses a direct threat to the safety and welfare of Iranians.”
For its part, the US-based organization Hrana reported on its website that so far 116 people have lost their lives, including 37 members of security forces.
Iranian state television broadcast funerals of law enforcement members who were killed during the demonstrations, which took place in cities in western Iran, such as Yasuj and Gachsaran.
Iran’s 2nd-largest city Mahhsad has been fully blocked off for a 2nd consecutive night by a massive crowd of anti-regime protesters 100 000+ strong.
They’re blocking roads & setting fires on the streets, creating smoke that makes it difficult for regime snipers to fire at them pic.twitter.com/eKezE0OP3Z
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 11, 2026
“Endurance game”
Yesterday Saturday, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Iran craves FREEDOM, perhaps more than ever. The US is ready to help!!!”
Furthermore, in a phone call yesterday between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and American Secretary of State Marco Rubio, they discussed the possibility of American intervention in Iran, according to an Israeli source who was present.
An American official confirmed that the two men spoke but did not mention the topics that were discussed.
A senior US intelligence official yesterday characterized the situation in Iran as an “endurance game.” The opposition is trying to maintain pressure until Iranian government officials either flee or switch sides. On the other hand, Iranian authorities are trying to spread terror in order to stop the demonstrations before the US finds justification to intervene, he explained.
Israel has not expressed intention to get involved. In an interview with the Economist published Friday, Netanyahu stated that the consequences would be horrible if Iran attacks Israel. Referring to the demonstrations he commented: “Everything else, I believe we should see what happens inside Iran”.
