Iran police chief signals tougher stance as protests continue

Iran’s nationwide internet blackout has passed the 60-hour mark, with overall connectivity hovering at around 1% of normal levels, internet monitoring group NetBlocks said on Sunday.

“The censorship measure presents a direct threat to the safety and wellbeing of Iranians at a key moment for the country’s future,” NetBlocks said on X, as access to online communications remains largely cut across the country.

Israel has gone on high alert over the possibility the United States could intervene in Iran as authorities confront the biggest anti-government protests in years, Reuters cited three Israeli sources with knowledge of the matter as saying on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump has issued repeated warnings in recent days against the use of force on demonstrators and on Saturday said the United States was “ready to help.”

The Israeli sources, who were present for security consultations over the weekend, did not spell out what the high-alert posture involves.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of US intervention in Iran in a call on Saturday, according to an Israeli source, while a US official confirmed the call but gave no details.

Harry Potter author J K Rowling voiced support for protesters in Iran in a post on X on Sunday.

Rowling criticized people she described as backing human rights but declining to show solidarity with Iranians “fighting for their liberty.”

Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the US House of Representatives, voiced support on Saturday for protesters in Iran, calling their actions a fight for “freedom, dignity and self-determination.”

“Millions of people across Iran are displaying tremendous bravery in the face of decades of oppression and dictatorial rule,” Jeffries said in a statement.

“The world is watching in awe as they lead an honorable fight for freedom, dignity and self-determination. I stand with the courageous protestors who are under attack by the Islamic Republic.”

Barron Trump, the son of US President Donald Trump, shared videos showing a large protest rally in Tehran during ongoing demonstrations.

The post said authorities attempted to disrupt the protest by cutting power, but that demonstrators continued to gather and illuminate the streets with their phones.

“You can kill the power. You can’t kill the will of the people. Every tyrannical regime makes this mistake. And it always ends the same way," he said on X.