Iran Warns of Preemptive Strike After U.S. Threats Amid Ongoing Protests – 1/7/2026, 12:25:12 PM

Top world news stories as of January 7, 2026:

• Iran’s army chief threatens preemptive attack following U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning that America would intervene if Tehran violently suppresses peaceful protesters. This comes amid ongoing protests over economic woes, now in their 11th day since December 28, with at least 36 deaths reported across 27 provinces; Iran has started $7 monthly subsidies for essentials like rice and meat to ease anger from currency collapse.[1]

• US backs security guarantees for Ukraine at a Paris summit on January 6, with allies including France, Germany, and the UK pledging binding commitments against future Russian attacks, plus a US-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism; France and UK confirm troop deployments post-ceasefire.[2][3]

• Europe gripped by deadly cold snap, with six deaths from weather accidents since January 5, including five in France and one in Bosnia; heavy snow causes travel chaos, flight cancellations at Paris airports, and power outages in the Balkans.[2][3]

• China-Japan tensions escalate as Beijing imposes new military export controls, prompting Japanese protests; linked to remarks by Japan’s prime minister.[4]

• Trump warns of impeachment risk if Republicans lose 2026 midterms, speaking at a House GOP retreat.[2]

Other notable developments include Trump’s push for Venezuela to supply up to 50 million barrels of oil to the US while severing ties with China, Russia, and Iran—driving oil prices lower[4]—and renewed Trump interest in acquiring Greenland, not ruling out military force, drawing criticism from Denmark and Greenland’s PM.[3][4] Russia’s drone attacks on Ukraine killed two amid the Paris summit.[3]