Chinese military official gifts fighter jet mock-up to Iran air force chief

Security officials informed the families their presence at the February 11 pro-state march must be “verifiable,” including by taking photos and videos of themselves at the rally and sending the material to security bodies, informed sources said.

The officials, according to the sources, coupled the demand with threats and sustained psychological pressure, telling families that only if they comply might their detained relatives be released, spared execution, or see their sentences reduced.

The pressure coincided with a message delivered on Monday by Ali Khamenei, who in a short recorded video urged Iranians to demonstrate loyalty to the Islamic Republic and emphasized the need to stand firm against opponents of the system.

Pressure amid widening crackdown

The reported coercion comes as Iran International has previously documented an intensifying crackdown following nationwide protests, including mass arrests and a rise in reported deaths in custody. Observers have warned the pattern may point to a broader phase aimed at consolidating control and removing evidence linked to the violent suppression of dissent.

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  Over 36,500 killed in Iran's deadliest massacre, documents reveal

According to a statement by Iran International’s editorial board, at least 36,500 protesters have been killed during the unrest. Many viewers of the outlet have also reported widespread arrests, critical conditions for detainees, and, in numerous cases, families being left without information about the whereabouts or treatment of their relatives.

Statements attributed to detainees’ families

Separately, websites affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps published a text on Monday attributed to Mohammad Ali Saeedi-Nia, an entrepreneur and founder of the Saeedi-Nia Real Estate and Industries Group, alleging that he would take part in the February 11 pro-state rally.

Sources told Iran International that the publication was part of the same pressure campaign and aimed at extracting forced declarations of loyalty from families of detainees, using pro-government media to signal compliance.

Sadegh Saeedi-Nia, the son of Mohammad Ali Saeedi-Nia and chief executive of the family business, was arrested following the protests and subsequent killings and remains in prison.

Meanwhile, reports indicate a new wave of government-ordered closures of cafés and restaurants in Tehran, accompanied by the suspension of their social media accounts. Officials have not announced the reasons for the closures, which follow similar actions in recent months and appear to have intensified after the mass killings of protesters in January.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that Tehran would pursue its diplomatic track with the US without trusting the other side while relying on armed forces.

“We will go down this path with eyes open, considering all past experiences, without trust in the other side, and with confidence in the armed forces,” Araghchi said during a meeting with army commanders.

Major General Amir Hatami, commander-in-chief of Iran's army also warned in the meeting that Iran’s adversaries would face an unprecedented response if they miscalculated.

“If the enemies make a mistake, they will certainly receive a response they have neither seen nor experienced until today,” Hatami said.

The possibility of additional military action against Iran is expected to be discussed when President Donald Trump meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, the Associated Press reported.

Netanyahu is is expected to press Trump during his visit to expand the scope of ongoing high-stakes nuclear talks with Iran, the report said.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that Washington should decide whether it can negotiate independently of outside pressure, arguing that US alignment with Israel harms the region, Iranian media reported.

“Our negotiating party is the United States,” Esmaeil Baghaei said. “It is up to the US to decide to act independently of pressures and influences that are to the detriment of the region.”

Baghaei also said Iran remained determined to secure its national interests through diplomacy.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson added that Iran was prepared to stay at the negotiating venue for consecutive days to ensure the talks produce results.

Baghaei also said last week’s nuclear talks with the United States were aimed at gauging the “seriousness” of the other side.

Iran’s air force commander said on Tuesday that Tehran would not accept negotiations under threat and stressed a tougher military posture alongside diplomatic outreach.

Brigadier General Bahman Behmard made the remarks in a meeting with foreign military advisers, according to state media.

“Iran has always welcomed diplomacy to create regional and international stability,” Bahmard said.

The armed forces, he said, had carried out a “smart review” of Iran’s defense doctrine, keeping a deterrent approach while upgrading “from relying solely on defensive reactions toward active deterrence and offense.”

Behmard described the shift as support for Iran’s diplomacy and said it meant that “no dialogue in the shadow of threats” and “no pressure at the cost of national security and interests” would be accepted.