TEHRAN –  Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the 86-year-old cleric who has led the Islamic Republic for more than three decades, is reportedly taking extra steps to protect himself.

Several accounts, including opposition-linked outlets such as Iran International and reporting repeated across international media, say Khamenei has shifted to a reinforced underground bunker in Tehran. The move reportedly came after senior military and security officials warned him that the risk of US airstrikes is rising, as American naval and air forces continue a major buildup in the Persian Gulf and nearby areas.

Sources describe the site as a hardened facility with heavy security and a network of tunnels, built to protect high-value figures during air attacks. The reports also point to sharper language from US President Donald Trump, who has again threatened military action unless Iran accepts strict limits on its nuclear program and ballistic missiles.

Trump has spoken about a “massive armada” moving into the region, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, guided-missile destroyers, F-35 fighters, and more air defenses, including Patriot and THAAD systems positioned at bases in allied countries.

US Buildup Brings Back 2020 Fears Inside Tehran

This posture brings back memories of January 2020, when Trump ordered a drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force, at Baghdad International Airport.

That strike stunned Iran’s leadership and showed that Washington was willing to target top figures directly. Analysts say the current buildup, described as larger than earlier deployments, has raised anxiety at the top of the Iranian system. Some reports claim Khamenei has even named potential successors in case he’s targeted.

Iran’s state media and officials have pushed back on the bunker claims. They have also shared photos and coverage of Khamenei at public events, including prayers at the tomb of Ruhollah Khomeini, to signal calm and control. Still, the speculation hasn’t faded. Opposition sources keep saying the move is about personal security and fear of a direct US strike.

Soleimani’s killing remains a turning point for the Iranian regime. The Trump administration defended the action at the time as a step to stop imminent threats to US personnel. In Iran, the strike was seen as a major blow and a public embarrassment that exposed gaps in the country’s security. Iranian leaders promised retaliation, but the episode also showed how quickly the situation could shift.

Now, with US warships closer and Trump warning that any future response would be “far worse” than before, including references in reporting to alleged 2025 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, the supreme leader appears to be acting on the assumption that the risk is real. In that context, reports of bunker living fit a leadership preparing for worst-case scenarios.

Claims of Mass Killings as Protests Spread

Even as outside pressure grows, the Iranian government is also facing intense anger at home. Nationwide protests tied to the economy, currency decline, and long-running frustration with repression have reportedly met a harsh response. Human rights groups, medical sources, and opposition media describe security forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij units, using extreme force to shut down demonstrations.

Because of censorship, internet shutdowns, and limits on reporting, death toll estimates vary widely. Iran International has cited internal documents that claim more than 36,500 people were killed during a two-day crackdown in early January 2026, calling it one of the deadliest civilian protest crackdowns ever reported.

Time magazine has published accounts attributed to senior health ministry officials that suggest up to 30,000 deaths in similar clashes, with morgues and burial systems pushed past capacity. Other trackers, including HRANA, have confirmed more than 6,000 deaths, with many more cases still being reviewed, including reports involving children and other non-combatants.

Rising Global Anger and Isolation Around the Islamic Republic

These claims build on a pattern seen during earlier unrest, including the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests after Mahsa Amini died in morality police custody. Critics say the government is using live fire, aimed shots to the head and torso, and mass arrests to end dissent. Families of victims also report disappearances, torture, and attempts to hide the scale of the killings, including alleged mass burials.

Outside Iran, patience with the Islamic Republic appears to be wearing thin. Years of support for proxy forces, missile work, and ongoing nuclear disputes have left the country isolated in many forums.

The current crackdown, paired with warnings of regional conflict if Iran is attacked, has added to the outrage from human rights groups and many governments. Many observers now describe the regime as weaker than it looks, held together more by force than broad public support.

With US forces positioned for possible action and protests continuing inside Iran, reports of Khamenei living underground have become a symbol of a leadership under pressure on two fronts. Whether this leads to a wider confrontation or pushes new concessions is still unclear, but the moment is tense for Iran and for the region.

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MINNESOTA – FBI Director Kash Patel has said they are investigating the money behind the protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that have picked up across the United States.

Minneapolis and Los Angeles have drawn the most attention, along with other large cities. Some rallies have turned into standoffs with federal agents, and the size and staying power of the protests have raised new questions about who is paying for them.

Conservative outlets and some federal officials say the movement is being boosted by a mix of left-wing nonprofits, donor networks that hide sources, and ideologically driven donors. They also point to groups loosely tied to Antifa as a visible presence during on-the-ground actions.

This wave of protests followed increased ICE activity under the current administration, including raids aimed at undocumented immigrants. Events in Minneapolis, including confrontations where Renee Nicole Good and others were killed, intensified public anger and helped drive larger crowds. Protesters have blocked facilities, shared agent locations through encrypted apps like Signal, and used tactics authorities describe as disruptive and at times violent.

How the Protests Look Organized, Not Spontaneous

One thing many observers keep coming back to is structure. Actions often pop up in multiple cities at once. Signs look professionally made, turnout rises fast after posts hit social media, and organizers share updates through messaging apps. Support systems also show up quickly, including legal hotlines, bail funds, rides, and other logistics.

Taken together, these details suggest more than a sudden wave of local outrage. Critics describe it as a well-supported campaign, with planning and resources that help protests keep going for weeks instead of days.

In Minnesota, Indivisible Twin Cities, a local chapter connected to the national Indivisible Project, has been active in organizing. The Indivisible Project, known for pushing back on conservative policy, reportedly received $7.8 million from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations between 2018 and 2023.

Other groups mentioned in reporting and public commentary include the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Minnesota chapter, along with socialist-leaning organizations such as the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), The People’s Forum, CodePink, and BreakThrough News.

Watchdog groups describe these relationships as part of a wider “protest industrial complex,” where money can move through donor-advised funds and pass-through organizations that make the original funding source harder to trace. In Los Angeles and other areas, some protest messaging has called for broad shutdowns, though turnout has differed by location.

Street-Level Escalation and Claims of Antifa Involvement

Antifa, a loose anti-fascist movement without a central leadership structure, has been tied to parts of the anti-ICE protest activity in media reports and statements from officials. Some accounts describe Antifa-aligned activists blending into crowds, sharing personal information about ICE employees (including doxxing claims), and pushing conflicts toward physical confrontations.

Authorities have pointed to incidents where protesters allegedly followed agents to their homes, leading to criminal charges in some cases. The Trump administration labeled Antifa a domestic terrorist organization in 2025, pointing to violence aimed at law enforcement.

Even without a formal hierarchy, critics argue that Antifa-style tactics show up across cities and benefit from the same broader funding and support systems that help large protest movements run smoothly.

FBI Focus on Funding and Coordination

The FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, has said it is investigating the financial support behind the unrest. Patel has publicly claimed the bureau has made major progress in identifying funders connected to anti-ICE protests in Minnesota and other locations. He has also argued the protests are “not organic,” pointing to what the bureau views as coordinated support.

Investigators are looking at whether money and planning helped enable crimes such as blocking federal officers or organizing activity that crosses legal lines. A 2025 executive order on countering domestic terrorism directs Joint Terrorism Task Forces to examine institutional and individual support linked to political violence.

Federal agencies named in that effort include the Treasury Department and the IRS, with the stated goal of disrupting funding networks and checking whether tax-exempt groups are staying within the law.

On Capitol Hill, the House Ways and Means Committee has referred certain nonprofits, including The People’s Forum, to the Treasury Department for review over allegations tied to extremism promotion and fraud. These referrals can lead to deeper financial scrutiny, including whether an organization’s tax-exempt status should be challenged or revoked.

Legal Risks for Funding or Organizing Protests

Funding and organizing protests is not illegal on its own. The legal risk rises when money or coordination is tied to violence, threats, or obstruction. In those cases, authorities may pursue serious charges, depending on the facts.

Potential charges discussed by officials and commentators include conspiracy to deprive rights under civil rights laws (including Section 241, which has historical ties to anti-KKK enforcement), aiding and abetting assaults on federal officers, and racketeering if prosecutors claim a pattern of coordinated wrongdoing.

Related enforcement actions have included terrorism charges against people described as Antifa-linked in attacks on ICE facilities. Felony charges can also come from obstructing federal law enforcement or doxxing agents. If funding is connected to violent acts, investigators may consider material support for terrorism or money laundering, especially where foreign ties are alleged.

Treasury reviews can also bring financial penalties, asset freezes, or tax consequences for organizations accused of misusing funds. Officials have warned that supporting designated groups such as Antifa could bring severe legal exposure.

These investigations sit at the center of a long-running conflict over how to protect the right to protest while also protecting law enforcement and public safety. Critics of the probes say heavy scrutiny can chill free speech and political activity. Supporters say it is a needed response to organized efforts that cross into intimidation or violence.

As ICE operations continue, anti-ICE protests also continue. At the same time, federal scrutiny of nonprofit funding, donor pipelines, and protest coordination is increasing. How these investigations end could shape not only immigration enforcement, but also how activism is funded and monitored in the years ahead.

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NEW YORK –  United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres says the UN is heading toward an “imminent financial collapse” unless countries pay what they owe and agree to update budget rules that no longer work.

In a January 28 letter to United Nations ambassadors, he said the situation is getting worse fast, putting programs at risk and threatening the United Nations basic ability to operate.

“The crisis is deepening, threatening programme delivery and risking financial collapse. And the situation will deteriorate further in the near future,” Guterres wrote. He warned that if payments don’t arrive on time, and if major fixes aren’t made, the United Nations could burn through its remaining cash by mid-2026. That could trigger deep cuts and disrupt key operations, including functions tied to the New York headquarters.

The warning lands during one of the United Nations toughest liquidity crunches in years. Late payments, rigid funding rules, and shifting politics among major donors have all tightened the squeeze.

What’s Driving It: Unpaid Dues at an All-Time High

By the end of 2025, unpaid assessments reached a record $1.568 billion, more than twice the prior year, based on Guterres’ letter and UN financial updates. The United Nations collected only about 76.7% of assessed contributions for the year. Even with aggressive cost controls, that gap left the organization short on cash.

One rule makes the problem worse. The UN must return “unspent” balances to member states at year’s end, even when some of that money was never paid in the first place. Guterres described this as a “Kafkaesque cycle.” He pointed to a recent example where the United Nations issued $227 million in credits tied to funds it never actually received. That practice drains cash that’s already scarce and keeps the liquidity crisis going.

The United Nations 2026 regular budget, set at about $3.45 billion, has been cut by roughly 7% in response to the crunch. Guterres said the cuts won’t be enough if member states don’t pay in full and on time, because the UN still may not have the cash needed to carry out the plan.

US Pullbacks and a Wider Shift Among Donors

The shortfall has grown sharper as the United States, the UN’s biggest donor, reduces support. The US covers about 22% of the regular budget and also contributes heavily to peacekeeping and voluntary programs.

Under President Donald Trump’s administration, the US has reduced voluntary funding to several UN agencies and has withheld or delayed some required payments. In early 2026, the US also said it would leave dozens of UN-linked bodies and other international groups it views as misaligned with US interests, including organizations focused on climate, health, and human rights. Those moves cut funding directly and signal a broader move away from multilateral commitments.

The US also holds the largest share of arrears, about $1.5 billion in regular budget assessments alone, including unpaid 2025 dues and older amounts. There are also gaps in peacekeeping funding, since US payments are capped at 25% even when its assessed share is higher. Combined with reduced voluntary support for agencies such as the World Food Programme, UNICEF, and WHO, the result is a deeper cash shortage for the United Nations.

Other large contributors have also fallen behind, though not at the same scale. Still, the US role draws the most attention, since it comes alongside sharp criticism from Washington about the United Nations performance and calls for reform.

Countries With Large Outstanding Balances

Guterres did not name countries in his letter. Still, United Nations financial data and reporting point to these major debtors by late 2025 or early 2026 (amounts are approximate and may include older arrears):

• United States: about $1.5 billion (by far the largest, including regular budget and peacekeeping gaps)
• China: about $192 million to $597 million (reports vary, delays appear across some assessments)
• Russia: about $72 million
• Venezuela: about $38 million (triggering loss of voting rights under Article 19)
• Mexico: about $20 million to $38 million
• Argentina: about $16 million
• Saudi Arabia: about $42 million (based on earlier figures)

Other arrears have been tied to countries such as Iran, Libya, Brazil, and several smaller states. By late 2025, only about 145 to 148 of the UN’s 193 member states had fully paid their 2025 dues. Some faced Article 19 pressure that can suspend voting rights, including Afghanistan, Bolivia, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Venezuela.

Rising Doubts About the United Nations’s Value

The UN’s money troubles are also feeding a bigger debate about trust, purpose, and performance. In many countries, public confidence in large institutions has weakened, and the United Nations often gets pulled into those same doubts.

A 2025 Pew Research Center survey reported broad frustration with how democracy works in many places. Many respondents said political leaders feel corrupt and out of touch, and those views can carry over to global bodies. In the United States, surveys often show corruption in government ranks among top concerns for more than 65% of Americans, tied to distrust of systems seen as bureaucratic or influenced by special interests.

Critics say theUnited Nations has grown too large, too political, and too slow to respond to war, climate pressure, and development needs. Some point to past scandals involving peacekeeping and claims of weak oversight in aid programs as signs of mismanagement.

There is no single global poll from 2025 to 2026 that measures how many people believe the United Nations “has lost its purpose and become corrupt.” Still, anecdotal reporting and regional polling suggest a growing minority, sometimes estimated at 40% to 60% in parts of the West, hold negative views, fueled by geopolitical conflict and fights over funding.

Guterres has said he hears those concerns and wants reforms that improve trust and efficiency. He also argues the United Nations remains a core forum for global cooperation.

Guterres urged countries to pay their assessments in full, on time, and to change rules that force the UN to return credits tied to unpaid money. Without action, he warned of a “race to bankruptcy” that could weaken peacekeeping, humanitarian relief, and sustainable development work.

As the UN reaches its 80th anniversary in 2026, the cash crisis is a major stress test. With reserves that could run dry by July, the next few months will decide whether the United Nations stabilizes its finances or faces major disruption and restructuring.

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