WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had been informed that the killing of protesters in Iran had been halted, but cautioned that Washington would continue to monitor the situation before deciding on any potential military action.
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Speaking at the White House, Trump said he had received assurances from what he described as “very important sources on the other side” that executions planned in Iran would not take place.
“They’ve said the killing has stopped and the executions won’t take place — there were supposed to be a lot of executions today — and that the executions won’t take place,” Trump said, adding that the United States had not yet independently verified the claims.
Asked whether US military action was now off the table, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office: “We’re going to watch it and see what the process is.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later told Fox News that there would be “no hanging today or tomorrow,” saying he was confident there were no plans for executions. He also accused Israel of orchestrating violence inside Iran.
Araghchi said the Iranian government was “in full control” and described a return to “calm” after what he called three days of “terrorist operations.” However, Iranian officials struck a defiant tone toward Washington, warning they were prepared to respond to any US attack.
Tensions remained high as the United States drew down some personnel from bases in the Middle East, including in Qatar. Iran had targeted the Al Udeid air base last year in retaliation for US strikes on its nuclear facilities. Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that the attack demonstrated Iran’s capability to respond to any aggression.
The unrest has also disrupted air travel. Iran briefly closed its airspace amid fears of possible US military action, forcing airlines to cancel, reroute or delay flights. The airspace was reopened after nearly five hours, according to aviation tracking data.
Several international airlines, including those from India, Russia and Europe, were affected. Germany warned its airlines against entering Iranian airspace, while Lufthansa and ITA Airways suspended or altered flight operations in the region. The United States already bans its commercial aircraft from overflying Iran.
The G7 nations said they were “deeply alarmed” by reports of deaths and injuries during the crackdown and warned of further sanctions if repression continued. Amnesty International accused Iranian authorities of carrying out mass unlawful killings on an “unprecedented scale,” while monitoring groups reported prolonged internet blackouts across the country.
India also urged its citizens to leave Iran, citing deteriorating security conditions. Indian officials estimate around 10,000 nationals are usually present in the country.
Meanwhile, researchers reported a surge in AI-generated videos depicting protests in Iran, spreading widely on social media amid the country’s internet restrictions. Analysts warned that such fabricated content was shaping narratives and overshadowing verified information during the crisis.
