Iran Protests HIGHLIGHTS: Jaishankar discusses ‘evolving situation’ with Iranian Foreign Minister amid high tensions

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, has urged members of the country’s military to break ranks with the Islamic Republic and stand with protesters who have taken to the streets across Iran.

Speaking out amid growing unrest, Pahlavi appealed directly to soldiers and commanders, asking them to protect civilians instead of harming them.

“You are the national military of Iran, not the military of the Islamic Republic. You have a duty to protect the lives of your compatriots. You do not have much time. Join them as soon as possible,” he said in a message posted on X.

Pahlavi’s message comes as protests continue to spread, with demonstrators openly challenging Iran’s leadership. His appeal focused on the role of the armed forces, urging them to remember their responsibility to the Iranian people rather than the ruling establishment.

Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, has accused US President Donald Trump of breaking international law after the former president posted a message on Truth Social urging Iranians to “keep protesting” and “take over your institutions.”

Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative to the UN, wrote to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council, demanding condemnation of the United States and Israel. He called the posts “reckless” and said they encouraged political destabilization, incited violence, and threatened Iran’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security.

“This reckless statement explicitly encourages political destabilization, incites and invites violence, and threatens the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Iravani wrote.

The ambassador urged UN member states and the Security Council to condemn “all forms of incitement to violence, threats to use force, and interference in Iran’s internal affairs by the United States.” He also called on the US and Israel to “immediately cease destabilizing policies and practices.”

Iravani said both countries “bear direct and undeniable legal responsibility for the resulting loss of innocent civilian lives, particularly among the youth.”

Iranian authorities, according to Guardian, say they have regained control of the country after several nights of massive protests that began last Thursday. The protests, some of the largest in decades, have shaken the nation and led to a deadly government crackdown.

Rights groups have accused the Iranian government of fatally shooting protesters and trying to hide the true scale of the violence by cutting off internet access. The blackout has now lasted more than five days.

Some international phone lines were restored on Tuesday, but only for outgoing calls. The connections remain poor, with frequent interruptions.

US President Donald Trump reacted strongly to reports that Iran could start hanging protesters as part of its crackdown.

“We will take very strong action if they do such a thing,” Trump told CBS News.

He said he was already aware that a “pretty substantial number” of people had been killed during more than two weeks of protests. When asked about hangings, Trump warned Iran again.

“When they start killing thousands of people – and now you’re telling me about hanging. We’ll see how that’s going to work out for them,” he said.

Later, after Air Force One landed at Joint Base Andrews, Trump told reporters that Iran was very much on his mind. “Iran is on my mind when I see the kind of death that is happening there,” he said.

“We’ll get some accurate numbers as to what’s happening with regard to the killing. The killing looks like it’s significant, but we don’t know yet for certain. I’ll know within 20 minutes, and we’ll act accordingly.”

China has strongly criticised President Trump’s warning that countries doing business with Iran could face a 25% tariff on trade with the United States.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said Beijing opposes unilateral sanctions and what it called “long-arm jurisdiction”. China argued that tariff wars solve nothing and warned it would take all necessary steps to protect its interests.

Oil prices moved higher on Tuesday as worries over Iran and possible supply problems outweighed hopes of more crude coming from Venezuela. Traders are clearly nervous about what prolonged unrest in a major oil-producing nation could mean.

Brent crude rose by 22 cents to reach $64.09 a barrel in early Asian trade, staying close to a two-month high touched a day earlier. US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate also gained, rising 23 cents to $59.73 a barrel.