Chicago – January 16, 2026
Widespread protests against Iran’s religious leadership appeared to be losing momentum on Thursday, one week after authorities cut off the country from the outside world and intensified a violent crackdown that activists claim has left at least 2,637 people dead.
The possibility of U.S. retaliation over the deaths continued to loom, although President Donald Trump suggested tensions might ease, saying the killings seemed to be coming to an end. The White House emphasized that all options were still being considered.
At the same time, Washington announced fresh sanctions targeting Iranian officials accused of violently suppressing the unrest, which erupted late last month amid a worsening economy and a collapsing currency. The G7 nations and the European Union said they were also exploring additional sanctions to increase pressure on Iran’s ruling establishment.
The United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency session on Iran for Thursday afternoon at the request of the United States.
In Tehran, residents reported that recent mornings showed no signs of overnight fires or street debris, while the gunfire heard on previous nights had largely stopped.
