Daily Briefing: What’s happening in Iran?

Good morning, The first-ever Vande Bharat Sleeper Express is all set to hit the tracks this week. It’s going to be a bit heavier on the wallet than premium trains like the Rajdhani Express. The government recently announced the fare structure for these semi-high-speed sleeper trains, and here’s what that means for passengers: the minimum chargeable distance will be 400 km, with fares going up to Rs 1,520 for 1AC (plus GST). The inaugural Vande Bharat Sleeper train, to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will run on the Guwahati-Howrah route. One important thing to keep in mind while booking is that there’s no Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) on these trains. Dheeraj Mishra has more details.

Iran is witnessing its biggest anti-government demonstrations since 2022. The protests began in December 2025, triggered by economic hardships stemming from a plunge in the Iranian currency’s value. They soon turned into a mass movement against the clerical rulers, under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has been in power since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The President Masoud Pezeshkian-led government launched a harsh crackdown against the protesters. On Sunday, a rights group estimated that at least 500 had died in the unrest. Here’s what you need to know: The actors: The Iranian government has accused the United States and Israel of “masterminding” the “destabilisation” in Iran, suggesting that Iran’s enemies had brought in “terrorists” who attacked mosques, banks and public properties.

Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah, whose regime was toppled in the 1979 revolution, has become a prominent voice in support of the protesters. In video messages to Iranians, the 65-year-old has said that he is ready to lead them to a “democratic transition”. While some protesters have voiced support for the “Shah,” others have called for a complete overhaul.

The US hand: The Donald Trump administration has warned the Iranian government of strikes if it continues to attack protesters. On Saturday, The New York Times reported that Trump had been briefed on new options for military strikes in Iran, including at non-military sites in Tehran. Iran, in turn, has warned that it will target US military bases if it launches an attack. Earlier, the US had struck military sites in Iran in June, claiming that Tehran was building a nuclear weapon.

Arvind Subramanian, former Chief Economic Advisor, and Devesh Kapur, Professor of South Asian Studies at Johns Hopkins University, recently joined forces for A Sixth of Humanity (HarperCollins), which looks at India’s development experience in government, economy, society and nation, since 1947. They sat down with us for the latest Idea Exchange session to discuss centralisation, the UBI concept and higher education in India. Read.

On the table: PM Modi is set to meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad today. What’s on the agenda? The two sides will unveil a defence and security roadmap, and sign a slew of pacts on semiconductors, critical minerals and skill development. The meeting would set the stage for India’s deeper engagement with Europe, given their differences on the Russia-Ukraine war and the US’s increasing protectionism.

Battle-ready: The Indian Army’s plans to create Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) may soon see the light of day. Sources have told The Indian Express that discussions are underway to form four IBGs — self-contained, agile, brigade-sized fighting units — from the Panagarh-based XVII Corps, the country’s first mountain strike corps that faces the frontier with China.

The buzz: On Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi’s birthday today, the party’s Uttar Pradesh unit will roll out a 100-day outreach programme. Priyanka had stepped back from active state politics after the Congress’s crushing defeat in the 2022 Assembly elections. But with the 2027 polls approaching and renewed buzz around her role, the question is back: is Priyanka Gandhi once again central to the UP Congress’s plans? Read.

Get rich: Manish Sabharwal, co-founder of Teamlease Services, writes that the way India thinks about entrepreneurship needs to change for job creation. Stating that “entitled dynasts peddle dated ideology” to brand entrepreneurs as “predators,” he outlines five necessary revisions: from accepting wealth creation as “glorious” to not fixating on fraud cases while writing laws. Read on.

Swipe: The Trump administration has proposed that American credit card firms cap interest rates at 10 per cent for a year, starting January 20. The move, announced by the President to stop the firms from “ripping off” the American public, is largely seen as a way to curb the affordability crisis. The move has sparked a buzz in India as well, where banks charge up to 42 per cent interest. Will India benefit from the Trump playbook? We explain.

Monday started off on a glamorous note as stars walked down the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards. At the time of writing the newsletter, Netflix show Adolescence was leading with four wins, while Leonardo DiCaprio-starrer One Battle After Another had clinched three awards. We bring you all the updates.

🎧 I leave you with today’s ‘3 Things’ podcast episode, where we discuss the ED’s case against I-PAC, the improved sex ratio in Haryana, and concerns ahead of the Tamil Nadu Budget.

That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow, Sonal Gupta Business As Usual by EP Unny