Iranian officials signaled that fast trials and executions are ahead for suspects detained during nationwide protests, while Iran promised retaliation if the United States or Israel intervenes in the unrest. The threats emerged amid signs of concern in Washington and the region, including reports that some personnel at a key U.S. military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate, even as President Donald Trump made statements that did not clearly specify what American action, if any, would follow.
The developments coincided with an abrupt change in Iran’s aviation posture. Iran shut its airspace to commercial flights early Thursday morning for several hours, without explanation, and a notice to pilots estimated the closure would end at 7:30 a.m. Flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24.com showed aircraft continuing to fly around Iran from its north and south during the restricted period.
Trump addressed the prospect of executions in remarks to reporters at the White House while signing executive orders and legislation. He said, “We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping — it’s stopped — it’s stopping,” adding that he had been told there was “no plan for executions, or an execution, or executions — so I’ve been told that on good authority.” His comments came after he had told protesters in Iran “help is on the way” and said the administration would “act accordingly” in response to what he called Iran’s deadly crackdown.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sought to temper the language, urging the United States to pursue a solution through negotiation. Asked by Fox News what he would say to Trump, Araghchi said: “My message is: Between war and diplomacy, diplomacy is a better way, although we don’t have any positive experience from the United States. But still diplomacy is much better than war.”
The messaging shift between Washington and Tehran came hours after the chief of Iran’s judiciary said the government must act quickly to punish the thousands detained. Iranian state television later circulated remarks by judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, who said authorities should press ahead with rapid trials and executions, arguing, “If we want to do a job, we should do it now. If we want to do something, we have to do it quickly,” and warning that delays would reduce impact: “If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect.” He added: “If we want to do something, we have to do that fast.”
Activists said hangings could come soon, and Iran’s crackdown has led to a rising death toll, though independent confirmation has been difficult amid disruptions to communications. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that security forces have killed at least 2,615 people, and it later broke the figures down to 2,615 protesters and 153 government-affiliated, with 13 children and 14 civilians it said were not taking part in protests among the dead. The group also said more than 18,400 people have been detained. The AP said it could not independently assess the toll given the communications disruptions in the country.
The protests began Dec. 28 following a collapse of Iran’s rial currency, as Iran’s economy has been squeezed in part by international sanctions tied to its nuclear program. In other developments Wednesday, Iran held a mass funeral for some 100 security force members killed in the demonstrations, with tens of thousands attending and holding Iranian flags and photos of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Caskets draped in Iranian flags were stacked at least three high, with red and white roses and framed photographs of the dead placed on top.
In streets beyond the funeral, fear remained evident for some residents. A mother of two shopping for fruits and vegetables, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said she was frightened by gunfire and protests, recalled hearing that many were killed and injured, and said “schools are closed” and she was scared to send her children to school again. In Tehran, Ahmadreza Tavakoli, 36, described a demonstration that he said turned quickly into a war zone, saying, “People were out to express themselves and protest, but quickly it turned into a war zone,” and adding, “The people do not have guns. Only the security forces have guns.”
Internet access has also been a key factor in how events are being relayed from inside Iran. Iran cut off the country from the internet and international telephone calls on Jan. 8. Activists said Starlink was offering free service in Iran, and Mehdi Yahyanejad, a Los Angeles-based activist who has helped get units into the country, said, “We can confirm that the free subscription for Starlink terminals is fully functional,” adding that tests were carried out using a newly activated Starlink terminal inside Iran. Starlink did not immediately acknowledge the reports.
While people in Iran were able to place international calls via mobile phones on Tuesday, calls from outside the country into Iran remained blocked, according to the AP. The report said security service personnel were apparently searching for Starlink dishes, with people in northern Tehran reporting authorities raided apartment buildings and sought satellite dishes. Separately, an Arab Gulf diplomat told the AP that major Middle East governments had been discouraging the Trump administration from launching a war with Iran, warning of “unprecedented consequences” that could spiral into a “full-blown war.”