Iran’s authorities indicated on Saturday they could intensify their crackdown on the biggest anti-government demonstrations in years, with the Revolutionary Guards blaming unrest on terrorists and vowing to safeguard the governing system. A day after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a new warning that the United States could intervene, there were fresh reports of violence across the country, although an internet blackout made it difficult to assess the full extent of unrest. The exiled son of Iran’s last shah, who has emerged as a prominent voice in the fragmented opposition, made his strongest call yet for the protests to broaden into a revolt to topple the clerical rulers. State media said a municipal building was set on fire in Karaj, west of Tehran, and blamed “rioters.” State TV broadcast footage of funerals of members of the security forces it said were killed in protests in the cities of Shiraz, Qom and Hamedan. Footage on social media on Friday showed large crowds gathered in Tehran and fires lit in the street at night. Reuters was able to confirm the location by comparing landmarks with satellite imagery. Protests have spread across Iran since December 28, beginning in response to soaring inflation, and quickly turning political with protesters demanding an end to clerical rule. Authorities accuse the U.S. and Israel of fomenting unrest. Iranian rights group HRANA says at least 50 protesters and 15 security personnel have been killed, and some 2,300 arrested. ARMY SAYS ‘TERRORIST GROUPS’ SEEK TO UNDERMINE SECURITY A witness in western Iran reached by phone said the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) were deployed and opening fire in the area from which the witness was speaking, declining to be identified for safety. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported the arrest of 100 “armed rioters” in the town of Baharestan near Tehran. In a statement broadcast by state TV, the IRGC – an elite force which has suppressed previous bouts of unrest – accused “terrorists” of targeting military and law enforcement bases over the past two nights. It said several citizens and security personnel had been killed and public and private property set on fire. Safeguarding the achievements of the Islamic revolution and maintaining security was a “red line,” it added. The regular military also issued a statement saying it would “protect and safeguard national interests, the country’s strategic infrastructure, and public property.” PAHLAVI SAYS GOAL IS TO PREPARE TO ‘SEIZE CITY CENTRES’ In a video posted on X, U.S.-based Reza Pahlavi, 65, whose father was toppled as Iran’s shah in the 1979 revolution, said the Islamic Republic would be brought “to its knees.” He called for people to seize the centres of their towns, and said he was preparing to return soon to Iran. “Our goal is no longer merely to come into the streets; the goal is to prepare to seize city centres and hold them,” he said. Trump said on Thursday he was not inclined to meet Pahlavi, a sign that he was waiting to see how the crisis plays out before backing an opposition leader. Iran’s rulers have weathered repeated bouts of unrest, including student protests in 1999, over a disputed election in 2009, against economic hardships in 2019, and in 2022 over the death in custody of a woman accused of violating dress codes. Trump, who joined Israel to strike Iran’s nuclear sites last summer, warned Tehran last week the U.S. could come to the protesters’ aid. On Friday, he said: “You better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting too.” “I just hope the protesters in Iran are going to be safe, because that’s a very dangerous place right now,” he added. He has repeatedly included Iran in lists of places where he could intervene next, after sending forces to seize the president of Venezuela a week ago. Some protesters on the streets have shouted slogans in support of Pahlavi, such as “Long live the shah,” although most chants have called for an end to rule by the clerics or demanded action to fix the economy. DOCTOR SAYS PEOPLE BADLY BEATEN, KILLED A doctor in northwestern Iran said that since Friday large numbers of injured protesters had been brought to hospitals. Some were badly beaten, suffering head injuries and broken legs and arms, as well as deep cuts. At least 20 people in one hospital had been shot with live ammunition, five of whom later died. On Friday, Khamenei accused protesters of acting on behalf of Trump, saying rioters were attacking public properties and warning that Tehran would not tolerate people acting as “mercenaries for foreigners.” The IRGC’s public relations office said three members of the Basij security force were killed and five wounded during clashes with what it described as “armed rioters” in Gachsaran, in the southwest. Another security officer was stabbed to death in Hamedan, in western Iran. The son of a senior officer, Brigadier General Nourali Shoushtari, was killed in the Ahmadabad area of Mashhad, in the northeast. Two other security personnel were killed over the past two nights in Shushtar, in Khuzestan province. Authorities have described protests over the economy as legitimate while condemning what they call violent rioters over the past two weeks. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom. Writing by Tom PerryEditing by Mark Potter and Peter Graff)

Jonathan Gerlach, a 34-year-old Pennsylvania man, was arrested on Tuesday after vandalizing a cemetery — only later did police discover human remains in his basement and storage unit, including more than 100 skulls, several long bones, mummified feet, and decomposing torsos. The arrest follows a months-long investigation of burglaries at graves and mausoleums. From November 7 to early January, 26 underground vaults and mausoleums were broken into or damaged, according to a probable cause affidavit. Surveillance footage from Mount Moriah Cemetery on January 6 shows the suspect’s car with “numerous bones and skulls in plain view in the back seat,” Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse said. From there, police observed Gerlach leaving the cemetery with a crowbar and a burlap bag filled with the skeletal remains of two small children, skulls, and other bones. He was taken into custody and, according to police, confessed to stealing roughly 30 sets of human remains. Authorities say a Monster drink was also found nearby and was later processed for DNA and fingerprints. It is still unclear what Gerlach was doing with the bones, Rouse noted, some of which were more than a century old. “Very simply, detectives have recovered an awful lot of bones at this point, and we are still trying to piece together who they are, where they are from, and how many we are looking at, and it’s going to be quite some time before we have a final answer,” Rouse said. He called the sight “horrific,” adding, “Detectives walked into a horror movie come to life in that home.” Yeadon Borough Police Chief Henry Giammarco also said it was one of the worst things he had witnessed in his 30-year career. “When people are laid to rest, that’s important,” he added. “The remains, they’re so old, but still, when they lived, they had a life, they mattered. It was important to us to get justice, and that’s working with the DA’s office. Hopefully justice will be served.” Gerlach is charged with more than 300 counts, including 100 counts each of abuse of a corpse and receiving stolen property, multiple counts of desecrating a public monument, desecrating a venerated object, desecrating a historic burial place, burglary, trespassing, and theft. He is also accused of stealing jewelry, possibly taken from human remains. He is jailed on a $1 million bond with no lawyer listed in court records, and an arraignment hearing is scheduled for January 20.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara and other officers were reportedly chased and harassed on Friday night by expletive-hurling anti-ICE protesters. “Minneapolis Police, including Chief Brian O’Hara, were just chased down and attacked by anti-ICE rioters while escorting a squad car out of the protest area,” journalist Julio Rosas posted to X on Friday night, captioning shocking FRONTLINES TPUSA video footage. BREAKING: Minneapolis Police, including Chief Brian O’Hara, were just chased down and attacked by anti-ICE rioters while escorting a squad car out of the protest area. pic.twitter.com/kanvVOHh56 — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) January 10, 2026 One officer appears to get shoved in the back by a demonstrator before the police are showered with snowballs. The Minneapolis police run away from the protesters and don’t appear to arrest anyone. At one point, an officer is heard saying urgently, “Hey, let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!” The anti-ICE demonstrators chasing the officers can be heard yelling, “You better f*cking run!” and calling officers “p*ssies” and shouting “f*ck you!” MINNEAPOLIS, MN: Minneapolis Police attacked by anti-ICE rioters while escorting police car out of the protest zone.@Julio_Rosas11/@TPUSA pic.twitter.com/MWycFinul7 — FRONTLINES TPUSA (@FrontlinesTPUSA) January 10, 2026 Anti-ICE demonstrations are expected across the nation this weekend, following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good. The Department of Homeland Security says the officer who fatally shot Good did so in self-defense, not just for himself, but for other officers, too. “In a split-second decision, our ICE officer acted dutifully to save his own life and the lives of his fellow officers,” DHS said. “This was an act of domestic terrorism by an anti-ICE agitator.” Footage taken by the ICE officer appears to show Good’s wife encouraging her to drive away as the feds were instructing her to exit her vehicle. In another video, Good’s wife could be heard saying, “I made her come down here. It’s my fault.” In a split-second decision, our ICE officer acted dutifully to save his own life and the lives of his fellow officers. This latest footage corroborates what DHS has stated all along. This was an act of domestic terrorism by an anti-ICE agitator. @TriciaOhio pic.twitter.com/YfXK9VVgJx — Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 9, 2026 Chief O’Hara has called the shooting of Good “entirely predictable,” given the tensions surrounding ICE operations. He’s called for de-escalation and a thorough, independent investigation. Related: LIVE UPDATES: Anti-ICE Protesters Harass Minneapolis Police On Wild Night Of Demonstrations

Far-Left New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Queens Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D) are finally calling out blatant antisemitism in the city, after much political pressure. On Thursday night, protesters gathered outside a Queens synagogue and shouted their support for terrorist group Hamas, chanting, “Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here.” The protests sparked the early closure of several Jewish institutions — including schools, daycares, and synagogues — due to safety concerns. As video of the demonstration racked up millions of views online, there was swift political condemnation in New York City, which put a spotlight on the new mayor’s silence. According to Politico, Mamdani didn’t address the chants until he was pressed about it publicly by a reporter a day later. “That language is wrong,” Mamdani said while walking to his vehicle on Friday. “I think that language has no place in New York City.” Then on X, Mamdani posted: “As I said earlier today, chants in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city. We will continue to ensure New Yorkers’ safety entering and exiting houses of worship as well as the constitutional right to protest.” As I said earlier today, chants in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city. We will continue to ensure New Yorkers’ safety entering and exiting houses of worship as well as the constitutional right to protest. pic.twitter.com/0J4GXWigiv — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 9, 2026 AOC, who has repeatedly accused Israel of “genocide,” said on X that the demonstrators were engaging in antisemitism. Her response came on Friday night. “Hey so marching into a predominantly Jewish neighborhood and leading with a chant saying ‘we support Hamas’ is a disgusting and antisemitic thing to do,” she posted. “Pretty basic!” Hey so marching into a predominantly Jewish neighborhood and leading with a chant saying “we support Hamas” is a disgusting and antisemitic thing to do. Pretty basic! https://t.co/Zx4wJPCPfP — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 10, 2026 Mamdani has been accused of promulgating antisemitism, both based on his past statements and his recent moves as mayor. Back in 2023, for example, Mamdani tied his anti-police stance to Israel and the IDF. “We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF,” he said. “We’re in a country where those connections abound. Especially in New York City, you have so many opportunities to make clear the ways in which that struggle over there is tied to capitalist interests over here.” Additionally, within hours of taking office, Mamdani signed an executive order revoking all mayoral directives issued after September 26, 2024, which, as highlighted by The Daily Wire, effectively axed several key protections for the Jewish community and measures aimed at strengthening ties with Israel. Democrat Senator John Fetterman, who has consistently called out antisemitism, blasted the demonstrators on X. “These a**holes in NYC proudly chant for Hamas in close proximity to a Jewish school and place of worship,” he said. “This is menacing and intimidation. The Jewish community deserves relief and protection from these raging antisemites.” These assholes in NYC proudly chant for Hamas in close proximity to a Jewish school and place of worship. This is menacing and intimidation. The Jewish community deserves relief and protection from these raging antisemites. https://t.co/yJdVT5Qnx8 — U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) January 9, 2026 Related: Mamdani’s First Act As NYC Mayor: Dismantle Pro-Israel Policies

The United States Department of Agriculture is cutting off all federal funding to the state of Minnesota and the city of Minneapolis. In a letter to Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey on Friday, Rollins cited the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud case that led to 78 people being charged as one of the main reasons for stopping the funding. Specifically, the letter noted how the scheme for the fake children’s meal charity that took advantage of COVID-era funds abused the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program, according to the letter. “Enough is enough! The Trump administration has uncovered MASSIVE fraud in Minnesota and Minneapolis—billions siphoned off by fraudsters. And those in charge have ZERO plan to fix it,” USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins wrote. “Today, [USDA] is SUSPENDING FEDERAL FINANCIAL AWARDS to Minnesota and Minneapolis, effective immediately, until sufficient proof has been provided that the fraud has stopped.” “No more handouts to thieves! Time to drain the Minnesota swamp and put American taxpayers first,” she added. There has been a widespread effort by the Trump administration to crack down on fraud concerns in Minnesota, especially when it comes to Medicaid. “The more we uncover, the more it becomes clear: it’s much worse than we were led to believe by state government officials,” Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said in a video posted to X earlier this week. “We will begin auditing Medicaid receipts and defer paying on claims based on fraud, waste, and abuse,” he continued. The numerous fraud scandals, which have already resulted in 95 people being charged in cases ranging from Feeding Our Future to an autism fraud treatment scheme, prompted Gov. Tim Walz not to seek a third term as governor. “I won’t mince words here. Donald Trump and his allies – in Washington, in St. Paul, and online – want to make our state a colder, meaner place. They want to poison our people against each other by attacking our neighbors,” Walz stated in his announcement. “And, ultimately, they want to take away much of what makes Minnesota the best place in America to raise a family. They’ve already begun by taking our tax dollars that were meant to help families afford child care. And they have no intention of stopping there.” Besides the fraud scandals, Minnesota continues to be in the national spotlight following an ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis this week, with Fox News reporting that an extra one thousand Border Patrol agents will be headed into the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan area to supplement the 2,000 federal officers already there, with extra hands meant to allow Homeland Security Investigations officers to keep exploring fraud concerns.