Iran has closed its airspace just hours after Donald Trump appeared to step back from his threats against Tehran.
It comes despite Trump using notably restrained language at a press conference in the Oval Office on Wednesday in possible sign that pragmatists inside the administration have successfully made the case that an attack is too risky.
‘We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping, and it’s stopped and stopping, and there’s no plan for executions or an execution,’ the president told reporters.
The president’s claims, which were made with few details, come as he’s told protesting Iranians in recent days that ‘help is on the way’ and that his administration would ‘act accordingly’ to respond to the Iranian government.
But Trump has not offered any details about how the US might respond and it wasn’t clear if his comments Wednesday indicated he would hold off on action.
Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) closing its airspace to all aircraft except permitted international arrivals or departures. The notice issued at 5.19pm EST is effective for more than two hours.
Flight radar data showed very few aircraft over Iran as the order went into effect.
The order came amid heightened tensions over its bloody crackdown on protesters during nationwide protests and the possibility of American strikes in response.
Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) closing its airspace to all aircraft except permitted international arrivals or departures. The notice issued at 5.19pm EST is effective for more than two hours. Flight radar data showed very few aircraft over Iran as the order went into effect.
Donald Trump signaled he may not strike Iran after claiming the regime has stopped killing protesters
Anti-regime protests have broken out across Iran, resulting in thousands of deaths.
The flight-tracking website FlightRadar24.com noted the order closed Iran’s airspace for a little more than two hours.
Despite appearing to retreat from his earlier red line, Trump signaled he could still order strikes against the ayatollah’s regime, saying his administration was closely monitoring the bloody crackdown which has left at least 2,500 protesters dead.
‘We’re going to watch and see what the process is. But we were given a very good, very good statement by people that are, aware of what’s going on,’ Trump added when pressed on if he would use military action on the Middle Eastern rival.
He was hit by immediate backlash by anti-regime activists on X who accused Trump of reneging on his earlier promises to take military action if protesters were harmed.
Furious anti-regime activists warned that Trump ‘has just thrown all those protesters under the bus’, inferring from his statement that he was offering Tehran an exit ramp.
‘If you TACO now Trump then you have just thrown all those protesters under the bus #FreeIran,’ wrote an X user after the press conference.
The TACO insult stands for ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’, coined by Wall Street traders last May after the president repeatedly flip flopped on tariffs.
The president repeatedly threatened to intervene over the last week if protesters were harmed and last night promised ‘strong action’ if Iran goes ahead with hangings.
Trump was mocked by anti-regime activists for appearing to walk back his red line on striking Iran
Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old Iranian protester, was set to be the first victim to be executed
The president on Tuesday consulted with his national security team about next steps after telling reporters he believed the killing in Iran was ‘significant’
It came after it emerged a 26-year-old shopkeeper was set to become the first alleged protester to be hanged in the crackdown.
However, in news that may come as a sign Tehran is backing down, Erfan Soltani’s family confirmed that he was not executed on Wednesday.
Trump on Tuesday consulted with his national security team about next steps after telling reporters he believed the killing in Iran was ‘significant.’
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and key White House National Security Council officials began meeting last Friday to develop options for Trump, ranging from a diplomatic approach to military strikes.
The Iranian security force crackdown on the demonstrations has killed at least 2,586, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported.
On Wednesday, Iranian officials signaled that suspects detained in nationwide protests would face fast trials and executions while the Islamic Republic promised a ‘decisive response’ if the US or Israel intervene in the domestic unrest.
The threats emerged as some personnel at a key US military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate by Wednesday evening.
Mohammad Pakpour, commander of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, reiterated Iranian claims, without providing evidence, that the US and Israel have instigated the protests and that they are the real killers of protesters and security forces who have died in the turmoil, according to Iran’s state news agency.
He added that those countries will ‘receive the response in the appropriate time.’
In a direct challenge to Trump earlier Wednesday, Iran’s judiciary chief urged the government to act quickly to punish 18,000 people detained during the protests.
Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei comments about rapid trials and executions were made in a video shared by Iranian state television online.
‘If we want to do a job, we should do it now. If we want to do something, we have to do it quickly,’ he said. ‘If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect. If we want to do something, we have to do that fast.’
