| Jan 6, 2026 | Iranian rial hits record low: 1.47M/USD. Israel-Syria-US discussions in Paris; agree on joint communication mechanism. | Iran International; Security Council Report | Iran economy; Syria |
| Jan 7, 2026 | Trump signs Presidential Memorandum withdrawing US from 66 international organizations (31 UN, 35 non-UN). | White House; NPR | Trump/Institutions |
| Jan 8, 2026 | Naghibzadeh interview published by Euronews. Same day: 1.5M protesters in Tehran. Government imposes internet blackout at 20:30 IRST. Massive crackdown with live fire -- mass casualties. | Euronews; Amnesty; Britannica | ALL TOPICS |
| Jan 8-9, 2026 | Deadliest days of crackdown. Death toll disputed (7K-36K). IRGC/Basij use lethal force across multiple cities. | Wikipedia; HRANA | Iran domestic |
| Jan 8, 2026 | US Senate advances Venezuela War Powers resolution 52-47 (5 Republicans break with Trump). | NPR; Al Jazeera | Trump/Institutions |
| Jan 9-16, 2026 | BRICS "Will for Peace 2026" naval exercise off South Africa. Iran asked to withdraw under US pressure (Trump threatened 25% tariffs on countries doing business with Iran). Iran initially downgrades to observer, then sends corvette anyway. | Newsweek; Daily Maverick | Russia-Iran; Regional |
| Jan 13, 2026 | Russia's Foreign Ministry criticizes "subversive external interference" in Iran. Syria's transitional government launches offensive against SDF in eastern Aleppo. | Carnegie; Wikipedia | Russia-Iran; Syria |
| Jan 14, 2026 | Senate final vote: War Powers resolution fails 51-50 (VP Vance breaks tie). Reports of Il-76 transport flights from Russia/Belarus to Tehran. | NPR; Foreign Policy | Trump/Institutions; Russia-Iran |
| Jan 15, 2026 | Reports emerge: Russia remained "mostly silent" on Iran protests for nearly two weeks. | Euronews; Al Jazeera | Russia-Iran |
| Jan 17, 2026 | Syrian offensive expands to Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, Al-Hasakah. | Wikipedia | Syria |
| Jan 18, 2026 | Syria ceasefire: 14-point SDF integration agreement. Iraq announces full withdrawal of US forces from federal territory. Iran-backed PMF refuses to disarm. | Wikipedia; CNN | Syria; Regional |
| Jan 21, 2026 | Putin meeting announced by Witkoff. "Land deals" cited as obstacle in Ukraine talks. | CNBC | Russia-US |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Witkoff and Kushner meet Putin at the Kremlin for 5+ hours. 27-point document presented. Territorial issue unresolved. Trump says deal "reasonably close." | NBC; Euronews; PBS | Russia-US |
| Jan 22, 2026 | House blocks Venezuela War Powers resolution (215-215). Trump calls War Powers Act "unconstitutional." | NPR | Trump/Institutions |
| ~Jan 24, 2026 | Reports: Khamenei moves to underground bunker in Lavizan. Son Masoud running Leader's Office. | Iran International | Iran domestic |
| Jan 26, 2026 | USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group deployed to Middle East. Trump calls it "massive armada." Houthis threaten new Red Sea attacks. | Washington Post; Military.com | Trump/Institutions; Regional |
| Jan 28, 2026 | Al-Sharaa meets Putin in Moscow to discuss Russian military bases (Hmeimim, Tartus). Russia withdraws from Qamishli airport (NE Syria). | Al Jazeera; FDD Long War Journal | Syria; Russia |
| Jan 29, 2026 | EU unanimously designates IRGC as terrorist organization. Iran-China-Russia sign trilateral strategic pact (not mutual defense). | CNN; Middle East Monitor | Regional; Russia-Iran |
| Jan 30, 2026 | Western source tells Iran International military strike on Iran "virtually certain." | Iran International | Military |
| Jan 31, 2026 | First trilateral US-Ukraine-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi. Witkoff calls them "productive." | Al Jazeera; ABC News | Russia-US |
| Feb 1, 2026 | Iran designates EU armies as "terrorist groups" (retaliation). US pressures Hezbollah to disarm while Iran in turmoil. | Al Jazeera; NPR | Regional |
| Feb 2, 2026 | Kremlin says Russia "working to de-escalate" Iran tensions. Reuters: 4 Iranian officials told Khamenei "fear is no longer a deterrent." UK sanctions 10 Iranian individuals. | Washington Times; Reuters/Japan Times | Russia-Iran; Iran domestic |
| Feb 3, 2026 | IRGC gunboats attempt to seize US tanker in Strait of Hormuz (fails). US F-35 shoots down Iranian drone near USS Abraham Lincoln. Hezbollah chief claims Iran can defeat US and Israel. | U.S. News; IRNA | Military; Regional |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Russia says uranium storage proposal for Iran "still on the table." | Algemeiner | Russia-Iran |
| Feb 6, 2026 | US-Iran indirect nuclear talks in Muscat, Oman. Witkoff, Kushner, CENTCOM's Adm. Cooper (in uniform) vs. Araghchi. Both sides call talks "positive." Follow-on agreed. Trump signs EO imposing 25% tariffs on Iran trade partners. Sanctions 15 entities, 14 vessels. Trump rejects Putin's call to extend nuclear weapons caps. | NPR; Al Jazeera; CNN; White House | ALL TOPICS |
| Feb 7, 2026 | Reports: Trump turning to US military leaders for diplomatic efforts on both Iran and Ukraine. | Washington Times | Trump/Institutions |
| Feb 8, 2026 | Khamenei skips annual Air Force commanders meeting for first time in 37 years. No explanation. Chief of Staff presides. Judiciary excludes protesters from Revolution Anniversary pardons. | Gulf News; WION | Iran domestic |
| Feb 9, 2026 | Reformist leaders arrested: Mansouri, Aminzadeh, Asgharzadeh, Emam. Hardliner MP calls for Rouhani to be hanged. Lavrov claims Russia accepted Anchorage deal but US not fulfilling; accuses US of "Bidenism." | Al Jazeera; NPR; Newsweek | Iran domestic; Russia-US |
| Feb 10, 2026 | Collection date. Rial at 1,614,000/USD. Eve of Revolution Anniversary. | -- | -- |