News and Analysis 1/14/26

“To all Iranian patriots, keep protesting. Take over your institutions if possible,” Trump said in remarks to the Detroit Economic Club and on Truth Social, “I’ve canceled all meetings with the Iranian officials until the senseless killing of protesters stops. And all I say to them is help is on its way” …

• Trump Encourages Iranian Protesters; Rights Group Says 2,000 Killed (Washington Post)

… “U.S. threats of military intervention create additional dangers. Instead, Washington should offer major economic incentives in exchange for meaningful political change in Iran” …

• Iran in Crisis: Time for a Change from Within (International Crisis Group)

… “Israeli officials have suggested the Trump administration delay large-scale strikes until the Iranian regime is even more strained, while one Arab official said there is “lack of enthusiasm from the neighborhood” for American military action in Iran right now” …

• Israeli and Arab Officials Have Privately Suggested U.S. Hold Off on Iran Strikes (NBC News)

… “the reality is the US president has few to no options that could obviously help that country’s protest movement, never mind the fact that the history of US intervention in the region has hardly been a success”:

• Why Trump’s Options Are Limited when It Comes to Using Force Against Iran (The Guardian)

“Iranians made phone calls abroad for the first time in days after authorities severed communications during a crackdown”:

• Iran Protest Death Toll Spikes to at Least 2,000, Activists Say (AP / PBS)

… and “[I]nternet shutdowns in Iran have often blocked work applications … central to ordinary businesses’ operations. Similarly, the regime’s efforts to block virtual private networks (VPNs) and secure HTTPS connections can wreak havoc on corporate payment systems, multi-factor authentication and even corporate email”:

• Why Iran Can’t Afford to Shut Down the Internet Forever – even if the World Doesn’t Act (The Conversation)

“[A]s a deep weather depression pummelled the Gaza Strip, killing at least seven children, Albanese said the weather disaster had exposed the depth of Israel’s disregard for civilian survival”:

• UN’s Albanese: Israel Treats Storm-hit Palestinians of Gaza as ‘Expendable’ (Aljazeera)

After “Trump warns of ‘very strong action’ if Iran executes protesters,” Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei declares, “If a person burned someone, beheaded someone and set them on fire then we must do our work quickly”:

• Iran Judiciary Chief Vows Fast Trials for Suspects Arrested over Protests (The Guardian)

“Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood official says group rejects US designation and ‘pursue all legal avenues to challenge’ it”:

• US Labels Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan as ‘Terrorists’ (Aljazeera)

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in closed-door meetings in recent days that, at this stage, the administration is looking at non-kinetic responses to help the protesters” …

• Scoop: Trump’s Envoy Secretly Met Iran’s Exiled Crown Prince (Axios)

… but while “[i]t’s not clear how many Iranians inside Iran support former crown prince Reza Pahlavi — but he’s definitely Israel’s favorite”:

• Would-Be Iran Monarch Reza Pahlavi Declares a Civil War in Iran (The Intercept)

“Continuity will be essential for an orderly transition. And second, when the regime finally falls, whoever will lead Iran next is almost certainly living there now” — Jason Rezaian:

• I’ve Waited for This Electrifying Moment in Iran for 10 Years (Washington Post)

“Ethnic minority regions are not indifferent to change; they are skeptical of its outcome”:

• Iran’s Protests Have Spread Across Provinces, Despite Skepticism and Concern Among Ethnic Groups (The Conversation)