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Iran Ready for War but Keeps Door Open for US Talks Amid Nationwide Protests

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Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran Ready for War but Keeps Door Open for US Talks Amid Nationwide Protests

Iranian officials have declared that the country is prepared for war but remains open to diplomatic dialogue with the United States, as President Donald Trump continues to warn of possible US intervention amid a violent crackdown on widespread anti-government protests.

Speaking to foreign ambassadors in Tehran on January 12, 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that the country is “not looking for war” but is ready if necessary, according to multiple media reports. His remarks followed Trump’s announcement that the US is weighing military options against Iran.

The protests, now in their third week, erupted in late December after soaring prices and the collapse of the Iranian rial sparked nationwide demonstrations. Human rights groups describe the unrest as the most significant challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership since 2022, spreading across major cities and dozens of towns.

According to Norway-based Iran Human Rights, at least 192 protesters have been killed since the demonstrations began. The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency reported more than 500 deaths, with over 10,600 arrests. Iranian authorities have yet to release official casualty figures. A government-imposed internet blackout since January 8 has made independent verification difficult.

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Protests in support of demonstrators inside Iran have also emerged internationally, including in London and Los Angeles, where a U-Haul truck incident during a rally on January 11 caused injuries.

Araqchi claimed the protests were “under total control” and accused what he described as terrorists of exploiting Trump’s warnings to provoke violence and prompt foreign intervention. Iranian leaders have repeatedly blamed the United States and Israel for stoking unrest.

President Trump, meanwhile, cautioned Iranian leaders against killing protesters and said the US military was reviewing “very strong options.” He noted that Iranian officials had requested negotiations, which are being facilitated through Switzerland, but warned that the US could act before discussions commence. Talks are expected to include Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that contacts with the US remain open and emphasized that Iran “never left the negotiating table,” while criticizing the US for sending contradictory messages.

In Tehran, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf addressed crowds at Enqelab Square, asserting that Iran is engaged in multiple fronts of struggle, including economic, psychological, military, and a war against terrorism. Araqchi also claimed that since the protests began, 53 mosques and 180 ambulances have been set on fire, insisting that “no Iranian would attack a mosque.”

The situation underscores heightened Iran-US tensions and growing domestic instability, with the world closely monitoring potential military and diplomatic developments.

Iran Ready for War but Keeps Door Open for US Talks Amid Nationwide Protests

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Canada Mass Shooting: Nine Dead in School, Residence Attack

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Canada Mass Shooting Nine Dead in School

Canada Mass Shooting: Nine Dead in School, Residence Attack

A mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada has left nine people dead and dozens injured after an attacker opened fire at a secondary school and a nearby residence on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), seven victims were killed at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, while two others died at a residence connected to the incident. At least 27 people were wounded, including two in critical condition, while the rest sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect was found deceased at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted injury. Authorities have not yet released the identity or motive behind the attack, which has shaken the small community of roughly 2,400 residents.

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Police responded rapidly, issuing an active shooter alert, placing schools on lockdown, and evacuating students safely. The RCMP and local officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack and the suspect’s background.

Local leaders described the event as a devastating tragedy, expressing solidarity with victims’ families. The shooting has prompted national attention in Canada and renewed calls for enhanced school security and measures to prevent mass shootings.

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in maintaining safety and preventing similar tragedies.

The attack is considered one of the deadliest school-related shootings in Canada in recent years, drawing widespread condemnation and grief across the country.

Canada Mass Shooting: Nine Dead in School, Residence Attack

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Iran Warns U.S. Against Israeli Pressure as Nuclear Talks Resume

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and US President Donald Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and US President Donald Trump

Iran Warns U.S. Against Israeli Pressure as Nuclear Talks Resume

Iran has warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States is a calculated move to undermine the newly resumed nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S., urging Washington to resist external pressure that could derail diplomacy.

Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Tuesday for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, as he seeks to push for a tougher American position on Iran, particularly on its ballistic missile programme, ahead of the next phase of negotiations.

The trip marks Netanyahu’s seventh meeting with Trump since the U.S. president returned to office. Their last meeting took place in Jerusalem in October 2025, shortly after Trump announced a ceasefire in Gaza.

Speaking before his departure, Netanyahu said discussions would focus on Gaza, regional developments and Iran’s nuclear file.

“On this trip, we will discuss a range of issues: Gaza, the region, but of course first and foremost the negotiations with Iran,” he said.

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Netanyahu added that he would present Israel’s position on what he described as “the principles of the negotiations,” arguing that these principles were crucial not only for Israel but for peace and security in the Middle East.

His office has repeatedly insisted that any agreement with Iran must extend beyond nuclear matters to include ballistic missile development and Iran’s regional activities.

Reacting to the visit, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei accused Israel of being the primary source of instability in the region and of working against diplomatic efforts.

Baghaei said Israel had turned Iran’s “peaceful nuclear programme” into what he described as a “fabricated crisis”, adding that Israel opposes any diplomatic process capable of restoring peace and calm in the Middle East.

He cautioned U.S. officials against allowing foreign actors to shape American foreign policy, urging Washington to act independently of what he called “destructive pressures and lobbies.”

Baghaei said Iran had demonstrated seriousness and goodwill in the talks and was eager to secure the lifting of “illegal sanctions” imposed on the country.

Referring to a brief encounter between Iranian and U.S. delegations last Friday, he said there was an understanding to continue the diplomatic process, describing it as an important step forward.

Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, arrived in Oman on Tuesday, according to local media, as diplomatic engagements around the talks intensify.

Iran Warns U.S. Against Israeli Pressure as Nuclear Talks Resume

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US to Deport 18 More Nigerians on ‘Worst-of-the-Worst’ Criminal List (Full Names)

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Mass deportation

US to Deport 18 More Nigerians on ‘Worst-of-the-Worst’ Criminal List (Full Names)

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced plans to deport an additional 18 Nigerians from its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register, bringing the total number of Nigerians slated for removal to 97. The latest names were added to DHS records on Monday, reflecting an expansion of the ongoing enforcement exercise targeting serious criminal immigrants.

According to DHS, the newly listed Nigerians were convicted of offences such as wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft, among other crimes. The department emphasized that the arrests are part of a nationwide crackdown coordinated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the leadership of Under Secretary Noem, fulfilling President Trump’s promise to prioritize the deportation of the most dangerous criminal aliens.

In a statement, DHS said:
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of the worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, the men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations, starting with the worst of the worst.”

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The 18 Nigerians recently added to the list include: Oluwaseyanu Akinola Afolabi, Olugbeminiyi Aderibigbe, Benjamin Ifebajo, Obinwanne Okeke, Kolawole Aminu, Oluwadamilola Olufunsho Ojo, Franklin Ibeabuchi, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Joshua Ineh, Stephen Oseghale, Eghosa Obaretin, Adesina Surajudeen Lasisi, Ibrahim Ijaoba, Azeez Yinusa, Charles Akabuogu, Kelechi Umeh, Lotenna Chisom Umeadi, Donald Ehie, and Chukwudi Kingsley Kalu.

This development underscores the U.S. administration’s tough stance on illegal and criminal immigrants, with foreign nationals, including Nigerians, continuing to be significantly affected by enforcement drives. Analysts say the DHS crackdown signals the federal government’s commitment to prioritizing the removal of individuals considered threats to public safety and national security.

The announcement follows a series of previous deportations affecting Nigerian nationals, with the total number of Nigerians removed under the “worst-of-the-worst” initiative steadily rising. Nigerian authorities have historically prepared reintegration measures for deported citizens, assisting returnees with relocation and support upon arrival.

US to Deport 18 More Nigerians on ‘Worst-of-the-Worst’ Criminal List (Full Names)

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