New US sanctions target Iran's security chief, upping diplomatic ante

Canada said on Thursday that one of its citizens has died in Iran at the hands of Iranian authorities, according to a statement by the country’s foreign minister.

“Our consular officials are in contact with the victim’s family in Canada and my deepest condolences are with them at this time,” Canadian foreign minister Anita Anand said in a post on X.

“Peaceful protests by the Iranian people - asking that their voices be heard in the face of the Iranian regime’s repression and ongoing human rights violations - has led the regime to flagrantly disregard human life,” she added.

Iran's security forces attacked protesters with knives and live gunfire in the northern town of Chamestan during demonstrations on January 8 and 9, local sources told Iran International.

Reports also indicate that security personnel fired live ammunition, targeting a number of protesters.

During the January 9 demonstrations in Chamestan, around 26 bodies were lying on the city’s main street, according to local sources.

US Senator Lindsey Graham said on Thursday that recent media reports suggesting President Donald Trump had ruled out military action against Iran were inaccurate.

“All the headlines like these are examples of reporting that are beyond inaccurate,” Graham wrote on X.

He shared screenshots of headlines that read “Trump gets cold feet on Iran” and “Trump informed Iran he does not intend to attack, asked Tehran to exercise restraint,” and said they misrepresented the situation.

“The circumstances around the necessary, decisive action to be taken against the Iranian regime have nothing to do with President Trump’s will or determination,” Graham wrote.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he added.

The security warning level at the US Al Udeid air base in Qatar has been lowered after a heightened alert on Wednesday, three sources briefed on the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

US aircraft that were moved out of the base on Wednesday are gradually returning, one of the sources said.

Two other sources, both diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some personnel who had been advised to leave the base have also been allowed to return.

"KLM is currently avoiding Iranian airspace as a precaution—a route we already rarely ⁠use. Last night's closure of Iranian airspace therefore had no effect on our operations," a KLM spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Iran closed its airspace for nearly five hours on Wednesday before reopening it, but airlines continued to take alternative routes.

British Airways’ owner IAG said BA flights to Bahrain were canceled through January 16. Wizz Air said avoiding Iran and Iraq could force some westbound flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to make refueling and crew-change stops in Cyprus or Greece.

Germany issued new guidance on Wednesday cautioning its airlines against entering Iranian airspace, after Lufthansa adjusted Middle East operations.

Carriers diverted over Afghanistan and Central Asia or used longer routings to reduce operational risk, according to Reuters.

US President Donald Trump signaled on Tuesday that he was leaning toward a military strike on Iran when he said Iranian protesters should keep up the demonstrations and that “help is on its way.”

Trump said on Wednesday he had been informed that the killing in Iran has stopped and Tehran would not execute any of the protesters.

At least 12,000 people have been killed in Iran in the largest killing in the country's contemporary history, much of it carried out on January 8-9 during an ongoing internet shutdown, senior government and security sources told Iran International.