Updated on: Jan 27, 2026 12:36:04 PM IST
A person holds a placard during a demonstration in support of nationwide protests in Iran, in Dublin, Ireland, January 24, 2026.
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The leader Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, said his group was concerned about Washington’s threats against Iran, Reuters reported. “We are determined to defend ourselves,” Qassem said in a televised address, adding that Hezbollah would decide in due course whether to intervene, but stressed: “But we are not neutral.”
The US’ military buildup comes as Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly moved into a special underground shelter in Tehran due to fears of a potential US attack, with sources cited by Iran International saying his third son, Masoud Khamenei, has assumed day-to-day management of his office.
Meanwhile, Iran continues to face unrest at home, with the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency saying it had confirmed nearly 6,000 deaths in a sweeping crackdown on protests that began in late December and intensified from January 8, while cautioning that the actual toll could be significantly higher.
5 top developments on US-Iran tensions
1. US warships near Iran: A US aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has moved closer to Iran, raising fears of a possible US-driven military attack as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalate.
2. UAE distances itself from any attack: The United Arab Emirates has said it will not allow its airspace, land or territorial waters to be used for military operations against Iran and will not provide logistical support, stressing dialogue, de-escalation and respect for sovereignty.
3. Khamenei ‘hiding’ underground: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly shifted to a special underground shelter in Tehran amid fears of a potential US strike, with his son Masoud Khamenei said to be handling day-to-day affairs of his office, as reported by Iran International citing sources.
4. Hezbollah concerned: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the Iran-aligned group is concerned about Washington’s threats against Iran and warned it is “targeted by potential aggression,” saying the group would decide later whether to intervene but stressing, “we are not neutral,” Reuters reported.
5. Death toll mounts in Iran: Activists say at least 6,126 people have been killed in Iran’s nationwide protest crackdown, including protesters, children and civilians, while Iran’s government has put the toll significantly lower at 3,117, figures that cannot be independently verified due to internet restrictions.
Follow all the updates here:
Jan 27, 2026 11:47:41 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Activists say at least 6,126 people have been killed in Iran’s nationwide protest crackdown, with many others still feared dead, as a US aircraft carrier group arrived in the Middle East amid rising tensions.
The figures were released Tuesday by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has verified each death through a network of contacts on the ground and has been accurate in previous rounds of unrest in Iran, reported AP.
According to the group, those killed include 5,777 protesters, 214 government-affiliated forces, 86 children, and 49 civilians who were not participating in demonstrations, while more than 41,800 people have been arrested during the crackdown.
Jan 27, 2026 11:16:01 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei on Monday local time issued a clear warning that the Islamic Republic is fully prepared to deliver a “sweeping, regret‑inducing response” to any act of aggression, reported Tehran Times.
Addressing reporters at his weekly press briefing, Baqaei emphasized that Iran’s position has been strengthened by the “heroic battle” in June 2025, a 12‑day conflict in which Iranian forces repelled a multi‑front military incursion, and that the country is now more capable than ever of defending its sovereignty against persistent threats from the United States and Israel. the report added.
Jan 27, 2026 10:52:16 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: US President Donald Trump said the United States has “a big armada next to Iran” but claimed that Tehran is seeking talks with Washington. “They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions,” Trump told Axios in an interview on Monday.
Separately, a senior US official said Washington remains open to engagement if Iran reaches out. “We are open for business” if the Iranians “want to contact us,” the official told reporters during a call, AFP reported.
Jan 27, 2026 10:31:19 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: The United Arab Emirates has reiterated that it will not allow its airspace, land or territorial waters to be used for any military operations targeting Iran, even as US warships move into the Middle East and regional tensions rise.
In a statement posted on X, the UAE foreign ministry said it remains committed to “not allowing its airspace, territory, or waters to be used in any hostile military actions against Iran, and to not providing any logistical support in this regard.”
The ministry added that “dialogue, de-escalation, adherence to international law and respect for state sovereignty constitute the most effective foundations for addressing current crises.”
The statement comes amid an expanding US military presence near Iran, including the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln to West Asian waters.
Jan 27, 2026 9:56:58 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: The United States is “open for business” if Iran chooses to reach out to Washington, a US official said on Monday local time, as the Trump administration continues to pressure Tehran over its crackdown on protesters.
“I think they know the terms,” the official told reporters when asked about the conditions for talks with Iran. “They’re aware of the terms,” reported Reuters.
US President Donald Trump said last Thursday that the United States had an “armada” heading toward Iran but expressed hope that it would not have to be used, as he renewed warnings against Iran killing protesters or restarting its nuclear programme.
Jan 27, 2026 9:30:23 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: A senior Iranian military official said on Monday local time reportedly that the United States would be unable to carry out any surprise or decisive strike against Iran, as US aircraft carriers, warships and fighter jets arrive in the region.
“The notion of carrying out a so-called limited, rapid and clean operation against Iran stems from incorrect assessments and an incomplete understanding of the defensive and offensive capabilities of the Islamic Republic,” the unnamed official said, as reported by Iran International citing Mehr News Agency.
“Any scenario designed on the basis of surprise or controlling the scope of conflict will slip out of the control of its planners at the very early stages,” the official added.
Jan 27, 2026 9:06:02 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Monday said the group views threats by US President Donald Trump against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as a threat against Hezbollah itself.
“Hezbollah is concerned with confronting Trump’s threat against Khamenei and considers it a threat against itself, and it has full authority to take whatever it deems appropriate to confront it,” Qassem said, reported Iran International.
Jan 27, 2026 8:48:01 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Lebanese MP and Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel on Monday responded sharply to Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem’s renewed pledge of allegiance to Iran and calls for Israel’s destruction, urging the Iran-backed armed group not to drag Lebanon into any confrontation.
“If you want to defend your master, go to him. If you want to commit suicide, do it alone, but leave Lebanon out of it,” Gemayel wrote in a post on X.
Jan 27, 2026 8:43:16 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: US President Donald Trump has received multiple intelligence reports indicating that Iran’s government is in a weakening position, the New York Times reported citing people familiar with the information.
“While the protests have died down, the government remains in a difficult position. Intelligence reports have repeatedly highlighted that in addition to the protests, Iran’s economy is historically weak,” the report said.
Amid these concerns, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly moved into a special underground shelter in Tehran over fears of a potential US attack, two sources cited by Iran International said.
Jan 27, 2026 8:37:48 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: US Senator Lindsey Graham has cautioned that Washington’s approach to Iran and the wider region must protect “our people,” including Iranian protesters and the Kurds, warning that abandoning them would be a historic failure.
“Our people have to include those who would be friends of America in the face of oppression: the protesters in Iran and the brave Kurds. These are difficult decisions. But to abandon the Iranian people and the brave Kurds would be, in my view, Benghazi times a million,” Graham wrote on X on Monday.
He added, “I am confident that President Trump, who has done a marvelous job protecting America, will make the right call. God bless President Trump and all under his command.”
Jan 27, 2026 8:26:06 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, accompanied by three guided missile destroyers, has arrived in the Middle East, boosting the United States’ potential to strike Iran.
According to US Central Command, the strike group, previously in the Indian Ocean, is now deployed to promote regional security and stability, though it is not yet in the Arabian Sea bordering Iran, AP reported.
The deployment comes as Gulf Arab states have indicated they want to stay out of any attack, despite hosting American military personnel.
Meanwhile, two Iranian-backed militias in the region have signaled their willingness to launch new attacks, likely showing support for Tehran following President Donald Trump’s warning of military action over the crackdown on peaceful protesters or potential mass executions in Iran.
Jan 27, 2026 8:18:26 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Amid fears of US attack, Iranian authorities unveiled a large mural on a billboard in central Tehran, issuing a direct warning to the United States against any military action.
The mural depicts an aircraft carrier with damaged and exploding fighter planes on its deck, strewn with bodies, with blood flowing into the sea to form the stripes of the American flag. A slogan reads: “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.”
Jan 27, 2026 8:04:40 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Activists have put the death toll from Iran’s nationwide protest crackdown at at least 6,126, warning that many more people are still feared dead.
The updated figures were released on Tuesday by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which said it had verified each death through a network of activists inside Iran, AP reported.
According to the group, those killed include at least 5,777 protesters, 214 government-affiliated forces, 86 children and 49 civilians who were not taking part in demonstrations, while more than 41,800 people have been arrested during the crackdown.
Iran’s government, however, has placed the death toll significantly lower at 3,117, claiming 2,427 were civilians and security personnel and describing the remaining deaths as “terrorists,” a figure activists dispute, citing a history of undercounting fatalities during unrest.
Jan 27, 2026 8:00:19 AM IST
The United Arab Emirates has reiterated that it will not allow its airspace, land or territorial waters to be used for any military operations targeting Iran.
In a statement posted on X, the UAE Foreign Ministry said it remains committed to “not allowing its airspace, territory, or waters to be used in any hostile military actions against Iran, and to not providing any logistical support in this regard.”
The ministry stressed that “dialogue, de-escalation, adherence to international law and respect for state sovereignty constitute the most effective foundations for addressing current crises.”
Jan 27, 2026 7:46:38 AM IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Amid rising tensions, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff have been exchanging messages on an “informal” basis, according to the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency.
However, Iran’s ambassador to Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said there is no “fixed channel of communication” between the two sides, adding that the contact “can hardly be called a negotiation,” Iran International reported.