By JON GAMBRELL

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Protests sweeping across Iran neared the two-week mark Saturday, with the country’s government acknowledging the ongoing demonstrations despite an intensifying crackdown and as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. But the death toll in the protests has grown to at least 72 people killed, with over 2,300 others detained, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Iranian state TV is reporting on security force casualties while portraying control over the nation.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has signaled a coming clampdown, despite U.S. warnings. Tehran escalated its threats Saturday, with the Iran’s attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, warning that anyone taking part in protests will be considered an “enemy of God,” a death-penalty charge. The statement carried by Iranian state television said even those who “helped rioters” would face the charge.

“Prosecutors must carefully and without delay, by issuing indictments, prepare the grounds for the trial and decisive confrontation with those who, by betraying the nation and creating insecurity, seek foreign domination over the country,” the statement read. “Proceedings must be conducted without leniency, compassion or indulgence.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered support for the protesters.

“The United States supports the brave people of Iran,” Rubio wrote Saturday on the social platform X. The State Department separately warned: “Do not play games with President Trump. When he says he’ll do something, he means it.”

State TV split-screen highlights Iran’s challenge

Saturday marks the start of the work week in Iran, but many schools and universities reportedly held online classes, Iranian state TV reported. Internal Iranian government websites are believed to be functioning.

State TV repeatedly played a driving, martial orchestral arrangement from the “Epic of Khorramshahr” by Iranian composer Majid Entezami, while showing pro-government demonstrations. The song, aired repeatedly during the 12-day war launched by Israel, honors Iran’s 1982 liberation of the city of Khorramshahr during the Iran-Iraq war. It has been used in videos of protesting women cutting away their hair to protest the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini as well.

“Field reports indicate that peace prevailed in most cities of the country at night,” a state TV anchor reported. “After a number of armed terrorists attacked public places and set fire to people’s private property last night, there was no news of any gathering or chaos in Tehran and most provinces last night.”

That was directly contradicted by an online video verified by The Associated Press that showed demonstrations in northern Tehran’s Saadat Abad area, with what appeared to be thousands on the street.

“Death to Khamenei!” a man chanted.

The semiofficial Fars news agency, believed to be close to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and one of the few media outlets able to publish to the outside world, released surveillance camera footage of what it said came from demonstrations in Isfahan. In it, a protester appeared to fire a long gun, while others set fires and threw gasoline bombs at what appeared to be a government compound.

The Young Journalists’ Club, associated with state TV, reported that protesters killed three members of the Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force in the city of Gachsaran. It also reported a security official was stabbed to death in Hamadan province, a police officer killed in the port city of Bandar Abbas and another in Gilan, as well as one person slain in Mashhad.

State television also aired footage of a funeral service attended by hundreds in Qom, a Shiite seminary city just south of Tehran.

More weekend demonstrations planned

Iran’s theocracy cut off the nation from the internet and international telephone calls on Thursday, though it allowed some state-owned and semiofficial media to publish. Qatar’s state-funded Al Jazeera news network reported live from Iran, but they appeared to be the only major foreign outlet able to work.

Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who called for protests Thursday and Friday, asked in his latest message for demonstrators to take to the streets Saturday and Sunday. He urged protesters to carry Iran’s old lion-and-sun flag and other national symbols used during the time of the shah to “claim public spaces as your own.”

Pahlavi’s support of and from Israel has drawn criticism in the past — particularly after the 12-day war. Demonstrators have shouted in support of the shah in some protests, but it isn’t clear whether that’s support for Pahlavi himself or a desire to return to a time before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.

Airlines have cancelled some flights into Iran over the demonstrations. Austrian Airlines said Saturday it had decided to suspend its flights to Iran “as a precautionary measure” through Monday. Turkish Airlines earlier announced the cancellation of 17 flights to three cities in Iran.

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ATLANTA (AP) — Undefeated Indiana’s already impressive march through the College Football Playoff gained momentum as its dominant defense created three first-half touchdowns with turnovers, Fernando Mendoza threw five scoring passes and the Hoosiers overwhelmed No. 5 Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl semifinal on Friday night.

No. 1 Indiana (15-0, No. 1 CFP) will face No. 10 Miami on Jan. 19 in the national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Miami beat Mississippi 31-27 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Thursday night.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 09: Grant Wilson #5 of the Indiana Hoosiers is tackled by Jadon Canady #22 of the Oregon Ducks during the second quarter in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Indiana will try to give the Big Ten its third straight national title, following Ohio State and Michigan the last two seasons. Few teams from any conference can compare with the Hoosiers’ season-long demonstration of balanced strong play.

Led by Mendoza and the defense, Indiana is making a case to be considered among the top teams in history.

Though Miami will be home for the national championship game, Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner and Miami native, will enjoy a homecoming following an almost perfect game against Oregon. Mendoza completed 17 of 20 passes and the five touchdowns, including two to Elijah Sarratt and a 36-yarder to Charlie Becker.

Kaelon Black ran for two touchdowns to lead the Indiana running game.

Oregon (13-2, No. 5 CFP) was doomed by the three first-half turnovers while also being short-handed by the absence of two of their top running backs.

The Hoosiers led 35-7 at halftime as the Ducks were held to nine rushing yards on 17 carries. Noah Whittington, who leads Oregon with 829 rushing yards, was held out with an undisclosed injury after Jordon Davison, who had rushed for 667 yards and 15 touchdowns, already was listed as out with a collarbone injury.

Backup running backs, including Jay Harris and Dierre Hill Jr, provided too little help for quarterback Dante Moore. Moore’s task against Indiana’s stifling defense would have been daunting even with all his weapons.

Indiana’s defense didn’t wait long to make an impact. On Oregon’s first snap, cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Moore’s pass intended for Malik Benson and returned the pick 25 yards for a touchdown. Only 11 seconds into the game, the Hoosiers and their defense already had made a statement this would be a long night for Moore and the Oregon offense.

Moore’s 19-yard scoring pass to tight end Jamari Johnson tied the game. The remainder of the half belonged to Indiana and its big-play defense.

After Mendoza’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. gave the Hoosiers the lead for good at 14-7, Indiana’s defense forced a turnover when Moore fumbled and Indiana recovered at the Oregon 3, setting up Black’s scoring run.

Oregon wide receiver Dakorien Moore (1) carries against Indiana defensive back Amare Ferrell (1) during the second half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Moore lost a second fumble later in the second quarter when hit by Daniel Ndukwe and Mario Landino recovered at the Oregon 21. Mendoza’s first scoring pass to Sarratt gave the Hoosiers’ the 35-7 lead.

Indiana extended its lead to 42-7 on Mendoza’s 13-yard scoring pass to E.J. Williams Jr.
Oregon finally answered. A 70-yard run by Hill set up a 2-yard scoring run by Harris.

Indiana’s special teams added a big play in the fourth quarter when Ndukwe’s blocked punt set up Mendoza’s second scoring pass to Sarratt.

Following their undefeated regular season, the Hoosiers have only gained momentum in the CFP. Indiana overwhelmed Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal as Mendoza passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns.

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Gophers coach Niko Medved slammed his clipboard onto the Williams Arena floor during a timeout huddle early in Friday’s second half against Southern Cal.

Minnesota’s lackadaisical play allowed the Trojans to go on a 6-0 spurt and extend its lead 41-30. After only 54 seconds was played, Medved had seen enough.

The Gophers chipped away at the deficit and forced overtime but fell 70-69 to USC at The Barn.

In the extra session, Jaylen Crocker-Johnson made a 3-pointer with 27 seconds left to give Minnesota a 69-68 lead. On the next possession, Chad Baker-Mazara got a foul call when falling to the court and made both free throws to retake the lead at 70-69.

The home fans booed that decisive call, and many others, down the final stretch.

On the last play, Cade Tyson had the ball poked away. He had the ball poked away, recovered it and a late heave was off the mark.

Minnesota (10-6, 3-2 Big Ten) fell to 9-1 at home this season and snapped a five-game winning streak.

In regulation, Minnesota took the lead at 63-62 with Cade Tyson’s two free throws with 45 seconds remaining. But Gabe Dynes made made one free throw to tie it again at 63-63 with 28 seconds left.

Cade Tyson’s game-winning shot attempt was short with five seconds left and USC’s Ezra Ausar’s last-second attempt was off the mark.

Minnesota forced 16 turnovers, but had only six points off them.

Baker-Mazara, who was averaging 19.3 points per gam, scored 29 points on Friday, but was held scoreless over the last eight minutes and until those final free throws.

Langston Reynolds and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson each picked up two fouls and sat for the the final eight minutes of the first half. Minnesota was up 22-21 when both went to the bench and USC outscored Minnesota 14-8 to take a 35-30 lead at the break.

USC’s 7-foot-5 center Gabe Dynes had eight first half points on 4-of-4 shooting and even with Crocker-Johnson in foul trouble, Medved didn’t turn to backup center Nemo Turner.

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Minnesota might have been carrying a little anger into a rematch series at Minnesota State this weekend.

The Mavericks swept the Gophers at Ridder Arena Nov. 21-22. It appears that Minnesota is keen to flip the script this time around as the visiting Gophers scored nine goals in the first two periods before calling off the dogs in an 11-3 victory in Mankato Friday night.

Third-ranked Minnesota, which hasn’t lost since being swept by the Mavericks, won its fifth in a row and improved to 17-4 on the season with a 10-3 win at MSU Friday night.

The host Mavericks actually drew first blood in the contest, scoring less than two minutes into the game. However, the Gophers scored the next five, including two from Abbey Murphy en route to a hat trick in the game, to take a 5-1 advantage at the first intermission.

MSU opened the second period in similar fashion, scoring 3:30 into the frame. But once again, Minnesota scored the next five — four in the second period, including Murphy’s third goal, and one final tally to open the final stanza.

Kendra Distad’s second goal of the evening, came at 2:10 of the third period before the Mavericks, who fell to 11-9-1, scored one final tally of their own while short handed at 3:58. Minnesota’s Molly Jordan netted the game’s final goal with her team on the power play at 18:39.

Anabella Fanale, Avery Hovland, Jamie Nelson, Nelli Laitinen, Tereza Plosova and Molly Jordan all scored for Minnesota on the night. Josefin Bouveng had three assists in the contest, with Fanale, Emma Kreisz, Chloe Primerano and Ava Lindsay all logging two assists apiece. Goaltender Hannah Clark made 22 saves.

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