Reports indicate rising likelihood of US attack on Iran
Amid ongoing anti-government protests in Iran that have reportedly resulted in hundreds of deaths (according to NGOs), recent reports from multiple international sources suggest an increasing likelihood of US military action against the Iranian leadership.
Trump has repeatedly threatened "strong action" if Tehran continues its reported violent suppression of demonstrators, prompting speculation about imminent strikes.
Two European officials indicated that US military intervention could occur within the next 24 hours, with an ‘Israeli’ official noting that Trump appears to have decided on some form of action.
This aligns with assessments from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which on January 13 reported that the Pentagon presented Trump with options including strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, ballistic missile facilities, or cyberattacks on its security apparatus.
Hebrew media, including “The Times of Israel”, reported on January 13 that the likelihood of a US strike has risen following Trump's meetings with advisers, with one American source warning that inaction could not continue given the ongoing "bloodshed."
Iranian officials have responded aggressively, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warning that Tehran could target US or ‘Israeli’ bases in the region if attacked.
Iran FM says there will be “no hanging today or tomorrow”
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday there would not be any "hanging today or tomorrow," despite earlier vows from Tehran to fast-track trials for protesters.
In an interview with US broadcaster Fox News, Araghchi insisted that 10 days of demonstrations over Iran's economic hardships were followed by three days of violence orchestrated by ‘Israel’, and calm had been restored.
"I can tell you, I'm confident that there is no plan for hanging," Araghchi said.
UK tells citizens to avoid non-essential travel to ‘Israel’
The UK Foreign Office advised Thursday morning its citizens against all but essential travel to ‘Israel’, amid rising reports of the US planning to take military action against ‘Israel’.
Iran issues notice closing airspace to most flights: Reuters via Flightradar24
Iran has issued an emergency notification effectively shutting down its national airspace to nearly all flight operations, according to data from FlightRadar24 cited by Reuters.
The move comes as regional tensions reach a breaking point, with Washington signaling potential military intervention in response to the Iranian government’s reported crackdown on domestic protests.
The Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) restricts the use of Iranian skies to a narrow subset of international flights that must receive explicit authorization from Iranian civil aviation and military authorities.
Flight tracking platforms showed a dramatic "emptying" of the airspace over the Islamic Republic and neighboring Iraq late Wednesday night.
Lufthansa says will bypass Iranian and Iraqi airspace “until further notice”
Germany's Lufthansa on Wednesday said its flights would avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace "until further notice" after US threats against Iran.
The group, which includes Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Discover, Eurowings, Swiss and ITA Airways, said in a statement that it was bypassing the airspace "due to the current situation in the Middle East".
'There is a calm. We are in full control,' Iran foreign minister says
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday said the government was in full control, as reports by human rights groups say the authorities are carrying out their most severe repression of protests in years.
"After three days of terrorist operation, now there is a calm. We are in full control," Araghchi told US broadcaster Fox News' "Special Report" program.
Trump says has been notified killings in Iran have “stopped”
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he had been told that "executions" had stopped in Iran, amid reports by rights groups that Iranian authorities were brutally suppressing protests against the government.
During an event at the White House, Trump said he had been told on "good authority" that the "killing in Iran is stopping. It's stopped...and there's no plan for executions," without providing further details.
UK says it has “temporarily closed” embassy in Tehran
The British embassy in Iran's capital Tehran has been "temporarily closed", the government in London said on Wednesday.
"We have temporarily closed the British Embassy in Tehran, this will now operate remotely," a government spokesperson said. "Foreign Office travel advice has now been updated to reflect this consular change."
