Iran closed its airspace to commercial aircraft on Thursday without providing an explanation, amid heightened tensions in the country due to large-scale protests and fears of potential US military intervention.
Initially, Iranian authorities had restricted airspace for just two hours, but the closure was later extended by a subsequent order.
The threat of a US strike escalated on Wednesday after the US military advised its personnel to evacuate from several key bases in Qatar. Iran had previously warned that it would target American bases in the region if the US intervened militarily in the country.
"All the signals are that a US attack is imminent, but that is also how this administration behaves to keep everyone on their toes. Unpredictability is part of the strategy," a Western military official told Reuters.
In Washington, however, Trump slightly toned down his rhetoric late on Wednesday, stating that he had been informed the "killing in Iran is stopping" and that there were no plans to execute the protesters.
Trump, however, did not specify who provided him with the information, referring to them only as "very important sources on the other side".
Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also claimed that his country had no plan to hang the protesters, contrary to reports that swift trials and executions could be imminent for those detained during the nationwide protests.
The chief of the Iranian judiciary had said on Wednesday that the government must act quickly to punish the thousands who have been detained, including by fast-tracking executions.
"Hanging is out of the question," Abbas told Fox News. He, however, issued a stern warning to the US, urging it not to repeat past mistakes, referring to US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities during the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June 2025.