U.S. President Donald Trump has said that killings of protesters in Iran have stopped, signaling his refusal to strike immediately. The White House remains under consideration of military intervention options.
During a White House briefing, Trump stated: “We were told that the killings in Iran are stopping, they have stopped, they are stopping—and there are no plans for executions, at least that’s what I’ve been informed about from reliable sources.”
When pressed on whether military action was now ruled out, Trump indicated he would monitor developments, describing his position as a rejection of immediate strikes. However, earlier in June 2024, Trump had claimed he would decide “within the next two weeks” to launch airstrikes after the U.S. targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Trump’s national security team has reportedly aimed for a swift and decisive military response against Iran to avoid protracted conflict. Yet officials express concerns about sufficient U.S. resources to counter an anticipated aggressive Iranian reaction.
Sources suggest Trump is considering limited initial strikes while maintaining the possibility of escalation, with no decisions finalized as of January 14. The administration also confirmed Trump’s readiness to support Iranian protesters through military action, though he expressed reservations about opposition figure Reza Pahlavi: “He seems like a very nice person, but I do not know how he would behave in his own country.”
Iran closed its airspace for over four hours on January 15 without explanation. The closure followed reports that employees at a key U.S. military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate. Iran has previously restricted airspace during conflicts with Israel, including the 12-day war against Israel in June and during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
