Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, warned on Sunday that any attack on the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would be a declaration of war. On Wednesday the US came close to launching military strikes on Iran but ultimately pulled back as Trump opted to pause amid mounting regional and diplomatic pressure. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, had also urged restraint, according to Axios, citing the risks to regional stability. “However, I am worried because I received news that he has been tortured under custody and hasn’t received medical attention yet. No protests have been reported for days in Iran, where the streets have returned to an uneasy calm.

Source: The Guardian January 19, 2026 11:58 UTC