Trump states that Iran has ‘no intention’ to execute demonstrators.

President Donald Trump claims that Tehran has “no intention” to execute demonstrators, yet he has not excluded the possibility of US military intervention in response to its brutal suppression of anti-government protests.

The US and UK are both scaling back their presence at the Al-Udeid air base located in Qatar. Officials informed CBS, which collaborates with the BBC in the US, that a partial withdrawal of American forces is merely a “precautionary measure”.

Iran closed its airspace to almost all flights for five hours overnight, prompting several airlines to announce rerouting their flights away from Iran.

The UK Foreign Office has also temporarily shut down the British embassy in Tehran, which will now function remotely, as stated by a government representative.

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump mentioned that his administration received “solid information” indicating that “the killings in Iran are halting, and no plans for executions exist”.

In response to a reporter’s inquiry, Trump noted that he was informed by “very credible sources” about these developments, expressing hope that such reports were accurate.

Initial protests sparked by the plummeting value of the Iranian currency started in late December but quickly escalated into a broader crisis challenging the legitimacy of Iran’s clerical leadership.

Earlier, Trump had cautioned of “very strong measures” against Iran should its government proceed with executing protesters, following reports that a 26-year-old individual arrested amid the protests was sentenced to death.

Erfan Soltani was supposed to be executed on Wednesday, according to his family who spoke to BBC Persian. They later informed the Norway-based Kurdish human rights organization Hengaw that his execution had been delayed.

Iranian officials have allegedly not provided any additional details regarding Soltani’s case, only mentioning that he was apprehended related to a protest.

The owner of a clothing store was arrested in Fardis, a city located just west of Tehran, last week.

In light of potential execution reports, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi remarked that “hanging is not an option” and assured that there would be “no hanging today or in the near future”.

In comments to Fox News, he also cautioned the US president against “repeating the same error as in June,” adding: “If you pursue a failed strategy, expect the same outcome.” In June 2025, the US targeted three of Iran’s nuclear facilities over suspicions that Tehran might use them to create a nuclear weapon.

In addition to the temporary closure of the British embassy in Tehran, the US Mission to Saudi Arabia has recommended its staff and citizens to “exercise heightened caution and minimize unnecessary travel to military sites in the area”.

Italy and Poland have issued advisories urging their nationals to depart from Iran, while Germany has suggested that air operators refrain from entering Iranian airspace due to potential risks from “heightening conflicts and anti-aircraft weapons”.

The German airline Lufthansa confirmed it would avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace “until further notice”.

The US embassy in Doha has recommended its staff to practice heightened vigilance and restrict non-essential travel to the Al-Udeid air base, while the Qatari government stated it would persist in “implementing all necessary measures to ensure the security and safety of its citizens and residents”.

Al-Udeid stands as the largest US military installation in the Middle East, housing around 10,000 personnel and about 100 UK staff. It remains uncertain how many will be departing.

Earlier this week, the US president encouraged Iranians to “CONTINUE PROTESTING” via a message on his Truth Social platform, assuring that “ASSISTANCE IS ON ITS WAY”.

Trump has shown hesitance to openly back any adversaries of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating that “we’re not quite there yet” during a Reuters interview on Wednesday.

When asked about potentially supporting Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran, Trump remarked “I’m unsure if his country would accept his leadership, but if they did, that would be acceptable to me”.

“He appears very appealing, but I’m not certain how he would be perceived in his homeland,” Trump added.

Numerous Iranian protesters called for Pahlavi’s return during the protests that commenced over three weeks ago; however, determining the depth of his support within the nation remains challenging.

Trump also indicated that the Iranian regime could collapse due to the ongoing protests, although he mentioned that “any regime has the potential to fail”.

Tehran has enforced a national internet blackout since last Thursday as authorities intensified their crackdown on anti-government protests.

The BBC and the majority of other international media outlets are also unable to report from within Iran, complicating the process of gathering and confirming information.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that it has confirmed the deaths of 2,435 protesters, including 13 children. Additionally, the group stated that another 882 fatalities are currently under investigation.