Off The Record Podcast
Off The Record Podcast
January 23, 2026

🚨 BREAKING: Airlines CANCEL Flights To Iran - Russians Evacuate - U.S. Military Prepare For WAR

Quick Read

International airlines halt flights to the Middle East, Russia evacuates citizens from Iran, and US military assets deploy as the region braces for potential conflict, with Iran's regime declaring a 'final battle' and the US preparing to deport Iranian officials.
Major international airlines have suspended all flights to Iran, Israel, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
Russia ordered its citizens to evacuate Iran, and the US announced deportations of Iranian regime officials.
Both Iran and Israel are reportedly preparing for a preemptive strike, with US military assets converging in the region.

Summary

Multiple international airlines, including British Airways, KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, Swiss, United Airlines, and Air Canada, have cancelled flights to and from Iran, Israel, UAE, and Saudi Arabia amidst escalating tensions. Russia has issued a direct order for its citizens to evacuate Iran, citing security concerns. The US is significantly increasing its military presence in the Middle East, including aircraft carriers and fighter jets, while also announcing the deportation of Iranian regime officials and affiliates starting this weekend. Iran's Supreme Leader's advisors stated that negotiations with the US are over, and 'only war will help,' a sentiment echoed by the host. Reports from inside Iran describe public executions and brutal suppression of protests by the IRGC, with protesters refusing to back down. The host highlights the 'Pentagon pizza tracker' and a new 'falafel tracker' as informal indicators of heightened activity, and discusses the uncertainty of who will initiate a strike between the US, Israel, and Iran.
This episode captures a snapshot of extreme geopolitical volatility, illustrating how rapidly a region can destabilize. The mass cancellation of international flights, the evacuation of foreign nationals, and significant military deployments signal a high probability of conflict. The US's policy shift to deport Iranian officials and Iran's declaration of a 'final battle' indicate a breakdown of diplomatic avenues, with potentially severe consequences for global stability, oil markets, and the lives of millions in the Middle East.

Takeaways

  • Multiple international airlines (British Airways, KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, Swiss, United, Air Canada) cancelled flights to Iran, Israel, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
  • Russia's Foreign Ministry advised citizens against travel to Iran and urged evacuation, citing security normalization concerns.
  • The US is deporting Iranian regime officials and affiliates, with the first wave scheduled for this weekend.
  • Iranian Supreme Leader Ali's senior advisors stated that US-Iran relations have passed the negotiation stage, with 'only war will help.'
  • The US military significantly increased its presence, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group, USS Roosevelt, F-15 jets in Jordan, and refueling tankers in Qatar.
  • Reports from inside Iran describe public executions in Esfahan and brutal suppression of protests, with IRGC forces shooting directly at protesters.
  • The host noted the 'Pentagon pizza tracker' and a 'falafel tracker' as informal indicators of high alert in Washington D.C. and the Middle East, respectively.
  • The UK deployed a Typhoon jet squadron to the Middle East, marking its first direct military response to the escalating situation.
  • US CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper visited Jordan, Iraq, and Israel for discussions amidst the military buildup.

Insights

1Massive Airline Cancellations Signal High Alert

Major international carriers, including British Airways, KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, Swiss, United Airlines, and Air Canada, have halted flights to and from Iran, Israel, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. This widespread disruption indicates a severe and immediate security assessment by global aviation authorities.

British Airways, KM, Air France initially announced halting flights (). Air France cancelled Dubai and Tel Aviv flights (). KLM cancelled weekend flights to Israel (). Lufthansa and Swiss cancelled flights to Israel, UAE, Saudi Arabia (). United Airlines suspended flights to Israel and the Middle East (). Air Canada cancelled flights to Israel and the Middle East ().

2Russia Orders Citizen Evacuation from Iran

The Russian Federation's Foreign Ministry issued an official statement advising its citizens against travel to Iran and urging those already there to evacuate, follow safety precautions, and comply with local law enforcement. This move suggests Russia perceives a significant and imminent threat to security in Iran.

Russian Federation's foreign ministry spokeswoman advised Russian citizens against traveling to Iran and urged evacuation ().

3US to Deport Iranian Regime Officials

The United States announced a radical policy to deport Islamic Republic officials, members, and anyone linked to the Iranian regime back to Iran, with the first wave of dozens of deportations scheduled for Sunday, January 25th. This marks the first time direct deportation flights from the US to Iran are occurring, escalating pressure on the regime.

United States announced they will be deporting Islamic Republic officials, members, and anybody with links to the Iranian regime back to Iran as soon as this Sunday, 25th of January ().

4Iran Declares 'Final Battle' as Negotiations End

Senior advisors to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali stated that relations between Iran and the US have 'passed the negotiation stage' and 'only war will help.' This rhetoric was later reinforced by the IRGC generals calling the current situation 'the final battle,' indicating a complete breakdown of diplomatic options and a readiness for military confrontation.

Senior advisers to Ali stated relations between Iran and the US have passed the negotiation stage, and 'only war will help' (). The Iranian regime called the operation 'the final battle' ().

5US Military Rallies Troops and Assets

The US is undertaking a massive military buildup in the Middle East. This includes the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier moving into the CENTCOM area, the USS Roosevelt in the Mediterranean to protect Israel, 37 F-15 jets arriving in Jordan, and 20 refueling tanker aircraft in Qatar. This extensive deployment signals preparation for significant military action.

USS Ibraham Lincoln aircraft carrier getting closer to the SenCom area, around the Arabian Sea (). USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Roosevelt in the Mediterranean Sea (). 37 F-15 jets arrived in Jordan, 20 refueling tanker aircrafts in Qatar ().

6Brutal Crackdown on Protests in Iran

Messages from inside Iran describe extreme violence against protesters by the IRGC. Reports detail gunfire, bodies stacked for display, injured individuals being dragged from hospitals, and public executions in Esfahan. This indicates the regime's desperate measures to suppress dissent amidst external pressures.

Four Iranians were publicly executed today in Esvahan (). Message from Iran detailing IRGC spraying people with gunfire, chasing on motorcycles, shooting backs and chests, stacking bodies, taking injured from hospitals, continuous gunfire, and shooting directly at hearts ().

Lessons

  • Monitor global news closely for developments in the Middle East, particularly regarding military actions and diplomatic statements from the US, Israel, and Iran.
  • Assess the potential impact of regional instability on global oil prices and supply chains, as significant conflict could lead to disruptions.
  • For businesses with operations or personnel in the Middle East, review and update emergency evacuation plans and security protocols.

Notable Moments

The host discusses the 'Pentagon pizza tracker' and a new 'falafel tracker' as informal indicators of high alert, where increased food delivery orders in Washington D.C. and the Middle East, respectively, suggest officials are working late due to escalating situations.

This provides a unique, anecdotal insight into how observers track potential military actions, highlighting the informal intelligence gathering methods used in high-stakes geopolitical situations.

The host reads a harrowing message from inside Iran detailing the IRGC's brutal suppression of protests, including public executions, shooting at unarmed civilians, and taking injured people from hospitals.

This moment provides a raw, unfiltered perspective on the human cost of the regime's actions, emphasizing the internal conflict and suffering that underpins the geopolitical tensions.

The host conducts a live poll asking viewers who they believe will 'pull the trigger first' (US, Iran, or Israel), with the consensus leaning towards the US.

This interactive segment highlights the pervasive uncertainty and speculation surrounding the timing and initiator of potential military action, reflecting the high-stakes 'game of chicken' perceived by the public.

Quotes

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"The relations between Iran and the US have now passed the negotiation stage. Now only war will help."

Senior adviser to Ali (Supreme Leader of Iran)
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"Go now. Go tell Trump to come and help you."

IRGC (to wounded protesters in hospitals)
"

"Ditch the Islamic Republic or else. The US officials are now warning Baghdad that cozying up with the Iranian regime will choke off their oil revenues, starving the government's wallets."

Host (paraphrasing US warning to Iraq)
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"If the US screws up, the American bases across the region are fair game."

IRGC General Kosari

Q&A

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