Iran Protests: Tehran is slowly showing signs of returning to daily routines after weeks of intense anti-government protests and a harsh crackdown. A state-imposed communications blackout has now stretched into its second week, limiting information flow and deepening uncertainty on the ground. The White House said President Donald Trump has kept “all options on the table” and warned of “grave consequences” if killings continue. Amid rising tensions, the US military is repositioning a carrier strike group to the Middle East. Open-source intelligence suggests the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, recently operating in the South China Sea, is the closest available force.

Source: News 24 January 16, 2026 20:14 UTC