President Donald Trump says Tehran has 'no plan' to execute protesters, but still hasn't ruled out US military action against the country over its violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrators.
The US and UK are both reducing the number of personnel at the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar, while officials have told CBS, the BBC's US partner, that a partial American withdrawal is a 'precautionary measure'.
Iran's airspace was closed to nearly all flights for five hours overnight, with several airlines announcing that they will reroute flights around Iran.
The Foreign Office has also temporarily closed the British embassy in Tehran, which will now operate remotely, a government spokesperson said.
Speaking from the White House on Wednesday, Trump said his administration had been told 'on good authority' that 'the killing in Iran is stopping, and there's no plan for executions'. When questioned by a reporter, Trump emphasized he had received this information from 'very important sources on the other side', expressing hope that the reports were accurate.
Initial demonstrations over the collapse of the Iranian currency began in late December, but swiftly expanded into a wider crisis of legitimacy for Iran's clerical leadership. Trump had earlier threatened 'very strong action' against Iran if the government executed protesters after reports emerged that a 26-year-old man, Erfan Soltani, who had been arrested during protests, had been sentenced to death. Family members reported that his execution was postponed, adding a layer of uncertainty to the situation.
In light of the volatile environment, the US embassy in Doha has advised its personnel to exercise increased caution and limit non-essential travel to military installations. European countries, like Italy, Poland, and Germany have echoed similar concerns, urging their citizens to leave Iran and avoid its airspace.
Protests continue to escalate across Iran, with the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reporting over 2,400 protesters have been killed amid ongoing clashes. Trump's comments reflect a complex diplomatic balancing act as the U.S. navigates its response to the crisis without further escalating the situation.
