Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

US President Donald Trump today urged protesters in Iran to keep going, and promised that "help is on its way".

This is the clearest hint yet that Trump is set on some kind of direct intervention, writes our world affairs correspondent, but details of the "help" remain scarce.

Trump also announced he was cancelling meetings with Iranian officials "until the senseless killing" stops.

In Iran, protests have quietened. Though details of the deaths and injuries following the crackdown on demonstrators are now being laid bare.

An Iranian security official tells Reuters it could be around 2,000 people, a figure similarly reflected by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

As a result of the days-long internet blackout in Iran, it's hard to know exactly how many have been killed in violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

Meanwhile, the family of Iranian protester Erfan Soltani, arrested on Thursday, say he will be executed tomorrow. They warn the government is using "every tactic they know to suppress people and spread fear."

We're now pausing our live coverage. You can keep up to date in our news story, and read some analysis from our international editor.

Trump keeps everyone guessing over Iran plans - what are some of his options?published at 20:27 GMT 13 January

20:27 GMT 13 January

Paul Adams
Diplomatic correspondent

Image source, Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images

When Donald Trump posted "HELP IS ON ITS WAY", it set off a tidal wave of speculation about what form "help" would take.

And that, of course, was the point. To keep everyone guessing.

But what lessons can we learn, if any, from Donald Trump’s other recent intervention: Venezuela?

The dramatic removal of Nicolás Maduro did not represent regime change, but rather a shock to the Venezuelan government, designed to change its behaviour.

So far, it seems to be working. Washington has taken control of Venezuelan oil, the government of Delcy Rodríguez is playing ball and over 100 political prisoners have been released.

Could something similar be on Donald Trump’s mind when it comes to Iran?

The US has many tools at its disposal to shock the Iranian regime - though flying in to remove the supreme leader is almost certainly not one of them.

By targeting barracks of the Basij militia or Revolutionary Guard, for example, it could show the government that there’s a heavy price to pay for its repression.

Cyber-attacks and other covert activities could put the regime, already weakened by Israeli and American attacks in 2024 and 2025, on the back foot.

The prize might be an Iranian commitment to lower, or abandon, its nuclear ambitions, along with a halt to the killing, the release of political prisoners - including foreigners effectively held as hostages - and greater freedoms.

But it’s hard to see the regime in Tehran agreeing to any of this without some form of dramatic intervention from the US.

Image source, Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Elon Musk's SpaceX is reportedly offering people in Iran free internet through Starlink's satellite service, according to Bloomberg News.

An internet blackout has persisted in Iran for over 100 hours - see the graphic below.

We've previously reported that Iranian intelligence forces seized a large shipment of "illegal" Starlink internet kits at its border region.

We also learnt that some Iranians use Starlink satellites, though the device is deemed illegal there.

BBC Verify analyses video from Tehran mortuarypublished at 20:09 GMT 13 January

20:09 GMT 13 January

By Merlyn Thomas and Shayan Sardarizadeh

There’s still very little footage emerging from Iran as the government-imposed internet blackout which started on Thursday evening remains.

BBC Verify is analysing four new videos that have emerged today. They were filmed at Kahrizak Medical Centre in south Tehran - which shows rows and rows of body bags laid throughout the grounds.

It was reportedly filmed on 10 January, according to the person posting the clips.

One video includes a 16-minute clip moving through the grounds of the mortuary. Some of the body bags are open, revealing peoples’ faces and injuries.

What appear to be family members and friends are seen walking in and out of the complex, looking for their loved ones.

We previously analysed footage from the same mortuary here and we’ll continue to analyse this.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

We've just had brief comments from President Trump on Iran, as he speaks to business chiefs in Detroit.

While the US president again vowed that "help is on the way", he provided no details, other than to note the previous announced tariffs on countries doing business with Iran.

This is, in a way, classic Trump. He is known for keeping his decision making process reserved for a small inner circle of White House officials.

The first word we may have on what he chooses to do may well come when reports emerge from Iran - as was the case with the raid on Venezuela earlier this year.

Trump was not present earlier when senior national security officials met to discuss the situation, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier today.

"To all Iranian patriots, keep protesting," US President Donald Trump says.

Speaking at the the Detriot Economic Club, in Michigan, he again asks Iranians to take over institutions "if possible" and to save the names of "killers and abusers" as they will "pay a very big price".

This mirrors what we heard from the US president earlier in a post on Truth Social.

He also repeats the message "help is on its way", though when asked by reporters what he meant by this Trump said: "You're going to have to figure that one out. I'm sorry".

On the reported number of deaths in Iran following a crackdown on demonstrations, Trump says he has heard "five different sets of numbers", some lower and some higher, but adds "one death is too much".

"Make Iran great again, It was a great country until these monsters came in and took it over. And it's all very fragile," he concludes.

• You can follow the latest from his speech in Detroit in our live coverage

Iranian regime under huge pressure, but not about to diepublished at 19:38 GMT 13 January

19:38 GMT 13 January

Jeremy Bowen
International Editor

Image source, Reuters

How does an authoritarian regime die? As Ernest Hemingway famously said about going broke – gradually then suddenly.

The protesters in Iran and their supporters abroad were hoping that the Islamic regime in Tehran was at the suddenly stage. The signs are, if it is dying, it is still at gradual.

The last two weeks of unrest add up to a big crisis for the regime.

Iranian anger and frustration have exploded into the streets before, but the latest explosion comes on top of all the military blows inflicted on Iran in the last two years by the US and Israel.

However, in the last two weeks, the regime's forces obeyed orders to shoot their fellow citizens in the streets - the result is that the demonstrations of the last few weeks have ended - as far as we can tell.

While the Iranian regime is under huge pressure, the evidence is that it's not about to die.

• You can read the more in Jeremy Bowen's full article on our website.

Iranian authorities say they have arrested 279 people they allege are affiliated with "riot organisations" linked to Israel and the United States.

The chief of the Iranian public security police, Faraja, "announced the arrest of 279 thugs and troublemakers", according to a report on the Telegram account of the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.

Throughout the recent weeks of unrest, Iranian officials have accused the US and Israel of inciting instability in the country and referred to the protester's as "vandals".

For context, the protests - which have reportedly spread to 180 cities and towns in all 31 provinces - were sparked by anger over the collapse of the Iranian currency and soaring cost of living.

Sarah Smith
North America editor

Donald Trump is ratcheting up the rhetoric against Iran’s leadership – as he and his national security officials consider possible military options.

He has been making threats about military action for days – saying that the US is “locked and loaded and ready to go”.

But it is not clear how far he is prepared to go to, or what he means when he says “help is on its way” in the same social media post he told protesters to save the names of the killers and the abusers – saying they will pay a big price.

There are a wide number of options that the president can consider – he could order air strikes that would target Iran’s nuclear programme, which was attacked by the US in June. Or strike at ballistic missile sites.

Narrower options could include a cyber attack or a strike against the Iranian security apparatus which is using lethal force to crack on protests. Iran has threatened to retaliate against US military installations in the region if attacked.

President Trump has also issued a threat to impose tariffs of 25% on counties that do business with Iran. But it is not clear how this would be applied and there has been no official comment from the White House about how or when these tariffs might be enacted.

While there are many unanswered questions about what action the US might take in Iran, Donald Trump sounds as though he is preparing for some kind of direct intervention.

More now from Trump's visit to a factory in Detroit - asked by reporters if he has advised US allies to evacuate from Iran, Trump replies, "I think they should get out".

"It's not a bad idea," he adds.

As a reminder, Trump earlier posted on social media that Iranians should keep protesting and "take over institutions", saying "help is on its way".

Image source, AFP

Reporters have asked US President Donald Trump what he meant in his earlier Truth Social post which said "help it on its way" for Iranian protesters.

Trump only replied: "You're going to have to figure that one out. I'm sorry."

The president is currently in Detroit, Michigan, to give a speech on the country's economy.

Germany's foreign ministry has joined the UK in summoning the Iranian ambassador amid the unrest in the country.

"The brutal approach of the Iranian regime against its own population is shocking," a statement from the German foreign office on social media reads.

It urges Iran to "end the violence against its own citizens and to respect their rights."

It follows earlier comments from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said "we are now witnessing the final days and weeks" of the Iranian regime.

Iran's foreign minister hit back soon after, telling Merz to "have some shame".

Earlier, UK Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper also summoned the Iranian ambassador for talks.

And, Italy's foreign minister says Iran's ambassador has been summoned over the "absolutely unacceptable" crackdown on demonstrators by Iranian authorities.

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has joined President Trump in taking to social media to address the Iranian people.

In a post on X it says that Iran's supreme leader has "butchered your people, made rial the weakest currency in the world, and squandered your country’s resources".

"Make regime change inevitable," the statement concludes.

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been reporting, President Trump has encouraged Iranians to continue protesting, telling them "HELP IS ON ITS WAY". It comes after he pledged to intervene if Iranians were killed in the protests.

Iran's security forces have cracked down hard in recent days, and the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency says at least 1,847 protesters have been killed since the demonstrations began on 28 December, warning the death toll could be far higher.

Responding to Trump on X, Ali Larijani, Secretary of the National Security Council and a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote: "We announce the names of the main murderers of the Iranian people: 1- Trump 2- Netanyahu."

This is not the first time Larijani has responded to Trump on social media.

Earlier in the protests, on 2 January, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue."

Larijani responded: "Trump should know that US interference in this internal matter would mean destabilising the entire region and destroying America's interests."

The Iranian ambassador has recently arrived at the UK Foreign Office, after being summoned by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in her address to the Commons earlier this afternoon.

Here's what we heard in the Commons:

• Cooper said the UK will bring forward legislation to implement "full and further" sanctions to target Iranian industries that are "advancing" the country's nuclear capabilities
• Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patelpraised the "brave and courageous" Iranians defying a "cruel, barbaric and despotic regime", asking Cooper what the UK will do to "stand up to Iran"

• Cooper added that any response "needs the international community to come together" which the UK will pursue through the UN
• Liberal Democrat MP Calum Miller asked if the government will sanction Iran's leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
• Cooper said the UK will look into potential further sanctions "in conjunction with the EU"

As a reminder, Ursula Von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said earlier that EU will "swiftly" propose further sanctions on authorities responsible for the "repression" of anti-government protests in Iran.

Farzad Seifikaran
BBC Persian

Image source, The Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights

The crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran, which has left hundreds dead, is now continuing with the issuance of death sentences against detained protesters.

Reports indicate that a death sentence has been handed down to a 26-year-old protester from Karaj, near the Iranian capital, named Erfan Soltani.

A relative told BBC Persian that Soltani was arrested on Thursday, the day when protests in Iran reached their peak.

According to his relative, “in an extremely rapid process, within just two days, the court issued a death sentence, and the family was told that he is due to be executed on Wednesday, 14 January”.

The relative added that following the internet shutdown, contact with Iran has been cut off and that they are “deeply concerned that he could be executed without any prior notice.”

The Iranian judicial system has a record of executing protesters detained in the aftermath of each wave of unrest.

Following the 2022 protests - known as the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement - at least 10 people were executed.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

Image source, telegram/IRIB NEWS

Iranian intelligence forces say they have seized a large consignment of Starlink satellite internet kits in border regions, allegedly intended for “espionage and sabotage operations” inside the country.

BBC Persian has learnt that some Iranians use Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service, although the authorities have tried to disrupt the signals by "jamming".

Use of the device is illegal in Iran.

According to the state media Telegram channel on 13 January, the shipment entered Iran "illegally from a neighbouring country".

The report said the seized equipment included 100 long-range receivers, 50 BTS signal boosters, 743 5G modems from various brands, and 799 next-generation mobile phones.

A video accompanying the report showed boxes of electronic equipment, some bearing the Starlink brand. This appears to be the first reported confiscation of Starlink devices in Iran.

Jemma Crew and Faarea Masud
Business reporters

US President Donald Trump announced yesterday he will impose a 25% tariff on US imports for Iran's trading partners, but what are the country's biggest exports?

Almost all of Iran's top 10 exports are fuel-related - it is one of the world's largest oil producers.

It also ships food to other nations, including pistachios and tomatoes. But it is, by far, a much larger buyer of staples from its trade partners.

Food makes up about a third of Iran's imports, in particular corn, rice, sunflower seeds and oils as well as soybeans.

But Iran's biggest import is gold.

In the 12 months to October, it imported $6.7bn worth of gold compared to $4.8bn in the year before.

Jemma Crew and Faarea Masud
Business reporters

Countries doing business with Iran will face a 25% tariff on trade they do with America, Trump said on Monday.

The US president has not provided many more details of this would be implemented.

Which countries trade with Iran?

Of the 100-plus countries that trade with Iran, China is its biggest export partner.

In the year to October 2025, it bought more than $14bn (£10.4bn) of products from Iran, according to figures from Trade Data Monitor which are based on statistics from the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.

China is followed by Iraq, which received $10.5bn worth of goods from its neighbour. Iran also counts the United Arab Emirates and Turkey among its largest customers.

In fact, exports from Iran to Turkey jumped substantially from $4.7bn in 2024 to $7.3bn last year.

Iran's economic grievances are set to get worse, World Bank's forecast suggestspublished at 16:19 GMT 13 January

16:19 GMT 13 January

Jonathan Josephs
BBC business reporter

The World Bank has warned that “secondary sanctions” such as those President Trump says he is imposing on Iran’s trade partners could “further dampen global trade”.

The US measures against Iran aren’t specifically referenced in the institution’s latest Global Economic Prospects report but it does warn there is a “significant risk” that growing trade tensions will damage global economic growth.

As protesters take to the streets of Iran, the report suggests that their grievances about the state of the country's economy are set to get worse.

After years of mismanagement, inflation has been running at more than 30% for the last decade and many households are struggling to afford the basics. Continued disruption to water and electricity supplies have also made it difficult for businesses to operate.

The World Bank assessment is that the economy will shrink for two years in a row, with a 1.1% contraction in the year to late-March.

Iran’s economy is calculated on the Persian calendar and in the 2026/27 year the World Bank foresees a 1.5% fall in the size of the economy. The decline is attributed to a continued fall in oil production in a country that has relied on exporting it, mainly to China.

It’s also a result of international financial and trade sanctions continuing to bite, they have been imposed as a result of Tehran’s nuclear programmes and support for militant groups in the Middle East.