“Iran Is Still Offline. Will Access To The Global Internet Ever Be Restored?,” RFE/RL, 1-20-26. “Iranians are living through one of the longest Internet shutdowns in history, with the authorities imposing a digital blackout since launching a bloody crackdown on antiestablishment protesters on January 8. … Filterbaan, an Iranian digital rights organization affiliated with the Texas-based Miaan Group, says the Islamic republic’s Internet policy has crossed into “absolute blockage,” with disconnection now the default and access granted only selectively. … A government official vowed on January 19 that Internet access would return to “normal” by the end of the week. But the news website IranWire reported on January 15 that government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani told journalists that international web access would not be available until at least the Persian New Year in March.” Sound like it would be advisable for the U.S., the UN, anything that starts with the letter U, or anyone to demand that Iran allow the internet freely or there is a consequence.
Just as the Regime did not learn (and change) from the disastrous 12-day June War, the Regime is not learning from the latest serious civil unrest. Instead it doubles down. “Iran ‘just getting started’ on punishing ‘rioters’ arrested during protests,” Al Jazeera, 1-20-26.
“Iranian parliament warns of jihad if Supreme Leader is attacked, ISNA,” Reuters, 1-20-26. Wait a minute. Didn’t the Supreme Leader y say Jihad is not part of the Five Pillars?
And in response. “Trump says Iran would be ‘wiped the off face of this earth’ if something happens to him,” The Hill, 1-20-26.
“Khamenei has systematically eliminated or neutralized every figure within the system who showed signs of independent authority or reformist ambition.” It just occurred to me, the following persons are ending their life in hiding in tunnels—Sinwar, Nasrallah, and Khamenei. Bad way to go, and a sign of poor leadership. See “Iran’s coming reckoning: Regime collapse is likely — democracy is not,” Middle East Institute, 1-20-26.
Not sure why the WSJ would volunteer its pages for the ISI FM who supported killing protesters (he says they are rioters; regardless their sentence was self-selected). For “waging war against Allah” the punishment the government meted out was death. See “Iran’s Government Defends Its Crackdown,” WSJ, 1-20-26. Quote of the Day—Iran FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi, “Unlike the restraint Iran showed in June 2025, our powerful armed forces have no qualms about firing back with everything we have if we come under renewed attack.”
“Cracks Are Emerging in Iran’s Once-Resilient Oil Sector,” RFE/RL, OilPrice.com, 1-20-26.
“Sudden deadly fusillade on Iran protesters culminated in Rasht bazaar inferno,” Iran International, 1-20-26.
“Trump Seeks ‘Decisive’ Options for Iran as Assets Move Into Middle East,” WSJ, 1-20-26.