Overview
- On Jan. 11, Khamenei used his Russian-language X account to say the United States is miscalculating toward Iran and later warned Americans face defeat from “erroneous planning.”
- Experts read the use of Russian as a message of closer Tehran–Moscow alignment and note the posts appear awkwardly machine-translated.
- Nationwide protests continue under an internet blackout, with HRANA reporting at least 544 deaths and the opposition NCRI claiming more than 3,000.
- President Donald Trump said the U.S. is weighing “very strong options” as Iranian officials accused Washington of interference and threatened retaliation against American forces and allies.
- Iran’s foreign ministry said communications between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff remain active, and analysts note Russia’s war effort in Ukraine relies on Iranian drones, raising stakes for Moscow.