All articles tagged with #iran
Starlink is providing free internet access in Iran, waiving subscription fees for previously inactive accounts as authorities crack down on protests; experts say the service could help Iranians share information, but access is limited and Iran can jam signals. There are an estimated 50,000 Starlink receivers in the country.
The Trump administration claims a wide menu of options against Iran, but actual choices are limited as forces have moved to the Caribbean and major assets have been redeployed elsewhere; airstrikes remain possible but would be constrained, lawmakers worry about entangling the U.S. in another conflict, and concerns over stockpiles and interceptor capacity persist, with Republicans favoring sanctions or non-kinetic pressure over a large military escalation.
SpaceX is waiving the Starlink subscription fee in Iran, letting receivers there access satellite internet for free as a nationwide internet blackout persists for several days and Starlink gear has been smuggled into the country despite a ban; Iranian authorities are reportedly attempting to jam the signal and crackdown on users.
Protests across Iran reflect deep domestic grievances amid rising US-Israel tensions; the regime is presented as prepared for either negotiations or war, with the IRGC and security forces enforcing repression. A limited external strike could temporarily bolster regime legitimacy, while avoiding strikes might drive Tehran to threaten or pursue pre-emptive actions. Assassination of Supreme Leader Khamenei is unlikely to topple the system and could trigger mass retaliation. The crisis remains uncertain, with internal dissent and regional instability continuing to shape the outlook.
President Trump told CBS that the U.S. will take very strong action if Iranian authorities begin hanging anti-government protesters, said he would cancel meetings with Tehran, and promised help for Iranian citizens. He cited past U.S. strikes and said the endgame is winning, while noting rising casualties and offering few policy details.
Israeli and Arab officials have told the Trump administration to postpone large-scale strikes on Iran, arguing the regime isn’t yet sufficiently weakened to be toppled by force and proposing alternative pressure measures—such as boosting Iranian communications, expanding sanctions, cyber actions, or targeted strikes against leaders—that could destabilize the regime and make broader military action more decisive later, as protests continue and the situation evolves.
France, Germany and Italy summoned Iran's ambassadors to protest the regime's crackdown on protests, calling the actions unbearable, inhumane, brutal and absolutely unacceptable, and urging Tehran to end violence and respect citizens' rights.
President Donald Trump canceled all meetings with Iranian officials and urged protesters to 'take over your institutions' as Tehran's crackdown intensifies, while signaling that 'help is on the way' with no details. He has floated military action, announced a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran, and a State Department alert urged Americans to leave Iran. Analysts warn that US strikes could violate international law and trigger chaotic consequences inside Iran, noting a fragmented opposition and potential power struggles within Iran's security apparatus.
Iran has accelerated the suppression of nationwide protests by adopting war-time tools—drones, signal jammers, a rapid propaganda apparatus, and a sweeping internet blackout—alongside heavy police and Basij deployments. Protests are now framed as foreign-backed, with state media pushing fear and claims of collateral violence, and experts say the regime is willing to use deadly force to quell dissent, marking a shift from traditional policing to militarized repression.
Britain summoned Iran’s ambassador in London after reports of a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemning the killings and announcing further sanctions targeting finance, energy, transport, software and other sectors. The nine-minute meeting underscored UK urgency as European partners also summoned Iranian envoys amid a crackdown that includes internet blackouts and mass arrests, with concerns the death toll could be higher than reported.
Crude and Brent futures rose about 3% after President Trump pledged support for Iranian protesters and canceled meetings with Iranian officials, as Iran’s crackdown and internet shutdown raise concerns that unrest could disrupt crude supplies.
Amid rising US-Iran tensions, Trump signals possible airstrikes while Washington orders Americans abroad to leave, signaling a shift toward tougher military options.
President Trump urged Iranians to keep protesting and said 'help is on its way' on Truth Social, offering no specifics on what action that might entail. He also said he canceled meetings with Iranian officials until the protests’ killings stop. The protests in Iran have been deadly, with Iranian officials saying about 2,000 people killed, and Trump has previously floated military action while also imposing tariffs related to Iran; Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran is in contact with the U.S. envoy and considering Washington's proposals.
Iran’s protests amid a currency collapse and rising prices are attributed to decades of U.S.-led sanctions, which the article says sharply cut oil revenue, limited access to dollars, and eroded the middle class, worsening living costs and public health, even as Trump claims he wants to help the demonstrators.
Putin’s long-running effort to wield a global network of allies is unraveling as U.S. pressure intensifies; Moscow struggles to protect partners in Venezuela and Iran while its Ukraine war drags on, prompting commentators to warn that an era of Russian great-power influence is ending.