US congresswoman criticizes Trump on Iran stance

Canada updated its travel advisory for Iran on Friday, keeping the “avoid all travel” warning in place and adding new language on demonstrations linked to rising living costs and economic grievances.

“Canadians in Iran are likely to be subject to increased surveillance and scrutiny by Iranian authorities, including for activities and behaviors that would be considered normal in Canada, including taking photographs in public places, travelling to remote areas not usually frequented by tourists, and interacting with the local population,” the statement said.

“Keep a low profile and don’t share your personal information with strangers,” it added.​

The revised notice warns that recent protests have led to clashes with security forces, casualties, arrests and potential disruptions to transport and telecommunications, saying the situation is “highly volatile” and could escalate without notice.

UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Mai Sato, said she is closely monitoring a sixth day of demonstrations across the country and warned of “growing confrontation” between protesters and security forces, urging authorities to respect freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

“I call on the Iranian authorities to respect the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and refrain from using excessive force against peaceful protesters,” Sato posted on X on Friday.

“The violent response witnessed during the Woman, Life, Freedom movement must not be repeated. A functioning civic space is essential for any society. People must be able to voice dissent and participate in peaceful protest without fear of reprisal,” she added.

Several prominent Iranian dissidents including renowned filmmaker Jafar Panahi and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi issued a joint statement calling for a peaceful transition away from the Islamic Republic, saying that Iran is at a critical juncture amid mounting economic and political pressures.

“We stand with the people to reclaim the right to a dignified life, freedom, justice, human dignity, and sovereignty over our own destiny,” the statement said, published on Mohammadi's official account on X.

“We warn the law-enforcement and security forces to remain faithful to their true responsibility—protecting the lives and security of the people of Iran; not carrying out orders of repression, not standing against the nation, and not shedding the blood of defenseless citizens,” it added.

The signatories, including figures such as dissident filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, political prisoners Mostafa Tajzadeh and Rasoul Qadiyani, say a renewed wave of civil resistance “taking over the streets” reflects a national will to remove what they call the illegitimate regime and build a democratic order based on popular sovereignty, justice and normal relations with the world.

“Any violence against the people constitutes direct participation in a crime that will be recorded in the historical memory of this land. Today is a time for choice: stand with the nation and separate your ranks from the repressors who are on their way out and must be held accountable,” the statement said.

US Senator Lindsey Graham credited President Donald Trump’s Iran policy with weakening the country’s leadership, saying it is the result of Trump’s efforts “to isolate Iran economically and to use military force wisely.”

“A weakened Iran - a nation run by religious nazis - is due to President Trump’s efforts to isolate Iran economically and to use military force wisely," Republican Senator of South Carolina posed on X on Friday. “It is time to Make Iran Great Again.”

Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi on Friday urged Iranians to “take over” the streets of Tehran and other major cities with simultaneous mass gatherings and road blockades, saying such a show of force is “necessary” to hasten the fall of the Islamic Republic.

“In order to overcome the regime’s repression, there is one path before us: the simultaneous and massive presence of people across the city, and at the same time, creating traffic jams on key routes and main roads,” Pahlavi posted on X on Friday.

“The solution is to go, in the form of small and cohesive groups of friends and family members, to the nearest street of your residence, find each other, and then hand in hand move toward the central streets of the city,” he added. “We will take back and rebuild Iran together.”