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Trump reports halt in Iran crackdown but refrains from ruling out strikes
US President Donald Trump stated Wednesday that credible sources informed him Iran has ceased its lethal suppression of anti-government demonstrations, though he did not dismiss the possibility of military intervention. The remarks follow a partial withdrawal of American and British personnel from a key Middle East air base.
Death toll surpasses 2,400 as protests enter fourth week
Human rights monitors report at least 2,435 protesters have died since demonstrations erupted in late December, initially sparked by the collapse of Iran's currency. An additional 882 fatalities remain unverified, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which also documented 13 child deaths. Iran's government has enforced a nationwide internet blackout since last Thursday, severely limiting independent reporting.
Embassy closures and airspace restrictions signal rising tensions
The UK temporarily shuttered its Tehran embassy on Wednesday, shifting operations to remote status. The US Mission in Saudi Arabia advised personnel and citizens to avoid military sites in the region, while Italy and Poland urged their nationals to leave Iran. Germany's aviation authority warned airlines against entering Iranian airspace, citing risks from "escalating conflict and anti-aviation weaponry." Lufthansa confirmed it would reroute flights around Iran and Iraq indefinitely.
Execution threat postponed amid international pressure
Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old protester arrested in Fardis, west of Tehran, was reportedly sentenced to death, with his family told the execution was scheduled for Wednesday. However, the Norway-based Kurdish rights group Hengaw later announced a postponement. Iranian state media denied Soltani faced a death sentence, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Fox News that "hanging is out of the question," cautioning Trump against repeating "the same mistake" as the June 2025 US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Diplomatic and military maneuvers
The US and UK reduced staffing at Qatar's Al-Udeid air base, home to 10,000 American and 100 British personnel, citing "precautionary measures." The Qatari government pledged to maintain security for residents and foreign forces. Iran closed its airspace for five hours overnight, prompting airlines to reroute flights.
Trump's mixed signals on Iranian opposition
In a Truth Social post earlier this week, Trump urged Iranians to "KEEP PROTESTING," assuring them "HELP IS ON ITS WAY." However, he stopped short of endorsing opposition figures, including Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah. "I don't know how he'd play within his own country," Trump told Reuters, adding that regime collapse was possible but not inevitable. Protesters have sporadically called for Pahlavi's return, though his domestic support remains unclear.
Information blackout complicates verification
With international media barred from Iran and internet access severed, verifying developments has grown increasingly difficult. HRANA and other groups rely on scattered reports from inside the country, while Iranian authorities have provided Soltani's family no updates on his case beyond his arrest during a protest.
