Iranian authorities have temporarily restricted the use of the country’s airspace. On the evening of January 14, Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization announced that all flights were suspended except for international ones that had received prior approval. The restrictions, initially set to last for two hours, were later extended until the morning of January 15, according to the Associated Press.
The decision comes amid escalating tensions with the United States. Reuters, citing European officials, reported that the U.S. may carry out strikes against Iran within the next 24 hours.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had stated that Washington was considering several “extremely tough” options regarding Iran in response to the crackdown on protests, including potential strikes on Iranian territory and even the deployment of troops.
However, Trump later stated that, according to "reliable sources," Iranian authorities had backed off plans to execute detained protesters. He added that the Iranian government had ceased its violent suppression of protests and abandoned plans for mass executions of protest leaders.
When asked about the possibility of the U.S. backing away from a military option, Trump noted that Washington would continue to closely monitor developments. He also mentioned receiving “very positive signals” from sources well-informed about the situation.
Earlier, the head of Iran’s judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, announced plans to expedite the processing of cases for approximately 18,000 individuals detained during protests and suggested the possibility of death sentences for some of them. In response, Iran’s foreign minister assured Fox News in an interview that the authorities had no plans to execute protesters.
Amid the intensifying situation, the United States has also taken precautionary measures in the region. According to reports from Reuters, AFP, and CNN, U.S. authorities have recommended that certain military personnel and civilian staff temporarily leave the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses about 10,000 American military and civilian personnel.
Since late December 2025, large-scale anti-government protests have erupted across Iran. Media and human rights organizations report that the authorities are taking harsh measures to suppress the unrest. Hundreds are said to have been killed, and thousands have been detained. Reliable information about the situation in Iran is scarce, as the country has had its internet access cut off for several days.
