Iran Closes Airspace Briefly as Internal Unrest and US Tensions Escalate

Iran issued a sudden order early Thursday to temporarily close its airspace, heightening fears in a region already on edge amid the government’s harsh crackdown on nationwide protests. Authorities offered no official explanation for the brief shutdown, which came as concerns over a possible US military response continued to grow. According to flight-tracking website FlightRadar24, Iran’s airspace remained closed for slightly more than two hours.

Iranian officials said on Wednesday that suspects detained during the nationwide demonstrations would face swift trials and possible executions, as the Islamic Republic warned of retaliation if the United States or Israel intervened in its internal affairs. The warnings came as some personnel at a key US military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate, adding to regional tensions.

President Donald Trump’s remarks over a 24-hour period remained ambiguous, leaving uncertainty over what action, if any, the United States might take against Iran. Meanwhile, Iran quietly closed its airspace to commercial aircraft for several hours early Thursday, according to a notice sent to pilots.

Trump Claims killings Have Stopped

Speaking to reporters at the White House, the Republican president said he had been informed that planned executions in Iran had been halted, though he did not provide further details. The comments came a day after Trump publicly assured Iranian protesters that “help is on the way” and that his administration would “act accordingly” in response to what he described as the regime’s brutal repression.

“We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is coming to an end,” Trump said while signing executive orders and legislation. “And there is no plan for executions — or an execution, or executions — so I’ve been told on good authority.”

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also sought to lower tensions, urging Washington to pursue a diplomatic solution through dialogue.

Death Toll Continues to Rise

According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 2,615 people killed were demonstrators, while 153 deaths were linked to government forces. The group reported that 13 children and 14 bystanders were also killed. More than 18,400 people have reportedly been detained.

Assessing the scale of the unrest has become increasingly difficult due to communication blackouts inside Iran, and the Associated Press has been unable to independently verify the figures.