Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian Joins Pro-Regime Rally In Tehran; Internet Blackout Crosses 90 Hours

Last Updated:January 12, 2026, 22:37 IST

President Donald Trump said the Iranian government has proposed negotiations to the US even as he weighs "very strong" military options to address the escalating violence

Amid nationwide unrest in Iran and a call for pro-government rallies on Monday, President Masoud Pezeshkian was spotted walking among flag-waving citizens on the streets of Tehran.

Pezeshkian, who urged Iranians to gather in major cities as a counter to the anti-government protests, was joined by foreign minister Abbas Araghchi as per images on the internet. Participants at these rallies were seen waving national flags and chanting slogans that denounced the protesters as “terrorists" and participants in “foreign-backed unrest".

This comes even as the ruling establishment has intensified a crackdown on anti-government protesters, with the nationwide internet blackout now crossing 90 hours. Human rights agencies reported at least 648 protesters have been killed by Iranian security forces.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said the Iranian government has proposed negotiations to the United States even as he weighs “very strong" military options to address the escalating violence. Speaking to reporters onboard Air Force One, he said his administration is in talks to arrange a meeting with Tehran although he cautioned that military action might be necessitated due to the mounting death toll. He stressed that “Iran called, they want to negotiate" and observed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the ruling establishment are crossing a “red line" against their own citizens.

Here’s all you need to know:

According to the latest data from human rights monitors, the crackdown by Iranian forces has resulted in the confirmed deaths of 544 people, including 483 protesters and 47 security personnel. Among these are eight minors and several non-protesting civilians.More than 10,681 people have been arrested and transferred to various prisons since the protests began on December 28, 2025. These protests were triggered by economic hardships like soaring inflation but have since evolved into a direct challenge against the Khamenei regime.The Iranian authorities have maintained a nearly total internet blackout for close to 90 hours now, making the task of independent verification of casualties and the scale of the protest increasingly difficult.With phone lines also being cut off, the government is reportedly using this to target cultural leaders; Iranian news agency Fars has begun calling out celebrities and leaders who expressed support for the uprising, accusing them of inciting riots and failing to condemn the deaths of security personnel.Despite the widespread nature of the protests – reportedly at 585 locations in 186 cities – foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has claimed that “the situation has come under total control". Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, he said there is clear evidence linking the deadly violence to “Mossad terrorists" and US-backed groups.The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has similarly condemned what it describes as “blatant intervention" by Trump, characterising the unrest as a “barbaric act of revenge" by the US and Israel for past regime victories.The Iranian foreign ministry, however, confirmed that a channel of communication remains open between Araghchi and Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. While the US has no formal diplomatic presence in Tehran, messages are being exchanged via the Swiss embassy whenever necessary.The Iranian foreign minister said the Islamic Republic is “not seeking war but is fully prepared for war", it remains open to “fair" negotiations based on mutual respect.In a fresh video message, exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi called for a national uprising to reclaim Iran from the Islamic Republic. He urged members of the armed and security forces to defect and “stand with the people" rather than choosing complicity with those he termed the “murderers of the nation". He encouraged Iranians abroad to replace the Islamic Republic’s banner at embassies with the pre-1979 national flag, a move that has already sparked diplomatic friction after the Iranian flag was swapped out at the embassy in London.According to reports, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that more Iranian security personnel have died during these protests than in any previous wave, including the 2022 Mahsa Amini movement. While human rights agencies report the deaths of 47 security personnel, state-affiliated media placed the figure as high as 109 to 114. The IRGC has specifically noted high casualty rates in provinces like Esfahan and West Azerbaijan.

(With agency inputs)

News world Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian Joins Pro-Regime Rally In Tehran; Internet Blackout Crosses 90 Hours

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