US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he had received assurances that the killings and executions of protesters in Iran had halted, but stressed Washington would continue monitoring events before ruling out potential military action. He told reporters in the Oval Office that “very important sources” inside Iran had conveyed the halt, while noting the claims remained unverified.
Read More: Trump urges Iranians to keep protesting, says ‘help is on its way’
Trump has repeatedly vowed to support Iranians amid an unprecedented protest wave, though he offered no specifics on how the information was obtained or confirmed. Asked whether the prospect of US strikes had been taken off the table, he responded, “We’re going to watch it and see what the process is.”
Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace, and in view of the safety of our passengers, Air India flights overflying the region are now using an alternative routing, which may lead to delays. Some Air India flights where…
— Air India (@airindia) January 15, 2026
With the NOTAM closing Iranian airspace expired, some flights are now making their way toward Tehran. https://t.co/IGaj36AUvI pic.twitter.com/Rhs03kbsmr
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 15, 2026
.@POTUS: “We have been notified pretty strongly … we’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping … and there’s no plan for executions…” pic.twitter.com/O8d2MwnDJb
— Department of State (@StateDept) January 14, 2026
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed “no hanging today or tomorrow” in an interview with US media, while denying widespread executions and blaming unrest on foreign interference. He said authorities were “in full control” following what Tehran described as a three-day “terrorist operation.”
Tensions in the region remained high as Iran reopened its airspace after a nearly five-hour shutdown that disrupted international flights and forced airlines to reroute, cancel or delay services. The closure followed warnings Tehran could strike American bases if the US moved militarily.
Several airlines, including Lufthansa, ITA Airways and Indian carriers, continued altering schedules or bypassing Iranian airspace amid elevated security concerns. Analysts warned that missile and drone activity across multiple conflict zones posed serious risks to commercial aviation.
Western governments voiced alarm over the scale of repression during the protest movement, with G7 nations warning of further sanctions. Amnesty International said authorities had carried out mass unlawful killings, while NetBlocks reported a nationwide internet blackout lasting six days.
Read More: Iran warns regional U.S. allies of retaliation threat
Meanwhile, researchers flagged a surge of AI-generated protest videos circulating on social media, as both pro- and anti-government actors sought to shape narratives during the information blackout. Analysts said the deepfakes highlighted how synthetic media is increasingly influencing fast-moving geopolitical crises.