Iran ‘prepared’ for war but open to US talks as hundreds reported killed in protests
International protests continue in solidarity with Iranian demonstrators From CNN's Photo Team A number of international protests took place over the weekend in solidarity with those demonstrating in Iran. These rallies have continued into the week, taking place in London, Milan and Berlin today. Take a look at some pictures from these protests below: An anti-Iranian regime protester holds up a photo of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the former shah of Iran, during a gathering outside the Iranian Embassy, London, on Monday, January 12. Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images People hold Iranian flags as they take part in a protest rally at the Iranian Consulate in Milan, Italy, on Monday. Claudio Furlan/LaPresse/AP A protester holds a placard reading 'The Mullahs must go!' as flags are waved in front of the Brandeburg Gate during a rally in Berlin, Germany, on Monday. John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images 59 min ago Top Iranian officials join pro-regime rallies in Tehran From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq Top Iranian government officials, including the country’s president and foreign minister, participated in pro-regime rallies in Tehran today, according to official Iranian media. “Iranian people should remain strong and present. Their presence encourages us,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said while marching among thousands in the capital, as seen in video published by Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). The country’s President Masoud Pezeshkian was also seen in a video from IRIB, surrounded by several men and waving to participants. Pro-government rallies were held across Iran as the country entered a third week of nationwide anti-government protests. Officials addressed supporters at the rallies, describing the anti-government demonstrations as “foreign-backed riots.” 1 hr 7 min ago Iranian security forces raiding homes as part of Starlink clampdown, activist outlet says From CNN's Billy Stockwell Iranian security forces are clamping down on the use of Starlink in the country, carrying out raids on homes and arresting those in apparent possession of satellite equipment, according to pro-reform activist outlet IranWire. Starlink is a US-based service, owned by billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX. It delivers mobile broadband via a network of orbiting satellites. “Starlink kits are the only source of connection to the global internet that the Islamic Republic has been unable to completely cut off,” IranWire posted on social media Monday. “In recent days, researchers and internet freedom activists reported for the first time that the Islamic Republic had disrupted Starlink internet.” On Saturday, an expert who studies internet disruptions told CNN Iranian authorities could be “jamming” Starlink terminals to further isolate the country amid widespread anti-regime protests. Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at network intelligence platform Kentik, confirmed that some Starlink users are experiencing high degrees of “packet loss,” which indicates their signal could be “getting jammed.” Even though the Iranian regime opposes the use of Starlink in the country, Madory said that people have managed to smuggle in terminals.
