International Media Reports
Iran on Thursday closed its airspace to commercial flights without offering any explanation, amid heightened tensions with the United States. The move came a day after US President Donald Trump expressed uncertainty over whether Iranian opposition figure Raza Pahlavi could muster sufficient support inside Iran to assume power.
Separately, according to a spokesperson for Somalia’s presidency, the United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon for a briefing on the situation in Iran. A scheduling note said the briefing had been requested by the United States.
In an exclusive interview with Reuters at the Oval Office, President Trump said the possibility existed that Iran’s clerical-led government could fall.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene in support of protesters in Iran, where reports suggest thousands have been killed during a crackdown on demonstrations against religious rule. However, on Wednesday he appeared reluctant to openly endorse Raza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, who was ousted in the 1979 revolution.
“He seems very nice, but I don’t know how he would do in his own country, and we’re not at that stage yet,” Trump said.
He added: “I don’t know whether his country would accept his leadership or not, and if that were to happen, I wouldn’t object to it.”
Raza Pahlavi, 65, who lives in the United States, left Iran before the fall of his father’s government during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He has emerged as a prominent voice during the recent protest movement. Iran’s opposition remains fragmented across various groups and ideological factions, including supporters of Pahlavi, but he does not appear to have a strong, organized presence inside the Islamic Republic.
Trump said the protests could lead to the collapse of the Tehran government, but noted that “any system can fail.” Whether the government falls or not, he said, “it’s going to be a very interesting time.”
On Wednesday, Trump posted a series of ambiguous messages that did not clarify whether the United States would take action against Iran.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he had been told that executions in Iran had been halted, though he provided no further details. A day earlier, addressing Iranian protesters, he said “help is coming” and that his administration would “respond accordingly” to the Islamic Republic’s deadly actions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also sought to soften the rhetoric, urging the United States to pursue a negotiated solution.
Asked by Fox News what message he would like to convey to Trump, Araghchi said: “My message is that between war and diplomacy, diplomacy is the better path. Even though we have not had a positive experience with the United States, diplomacy is still far better than war.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force commander, Major General Majid Mousavi, responded to Trump’s threats of intervention by saying Iran was “fully prepared” to respond to any form of “aggression.”
The shift in tone from both Washington and Tehran came just hours after Iran’s chief justice said the government must act swiftly to punish thousands of detainees.
Human rights activists warned that those in custody could face imminent executions. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 2,615 people have been killed in the security forces’ crackdown.
The death toll is higher than in any protest or unrest in Iran in recent decades and recalls the chaos that spread during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran Closes Airspace to Commercial Flights
According to the Associated Press (AP), Iran early Thursday shut its airspace to commercial flights without explanation. The development comes as tensions with the United States remain high amid an ongoing crackdown on nationwide protests.
Iran had previously closed its airspace during a 12-day war with Israel in June and during periods of heightened tension linked to the Israel–Hamas conflict.
The closure had an immediate impact on global aviation, as Iran lies along a key east–west flight corridor.
Safe Airspace, a website that provides information on conflict zones and aviation risks, said several airlines had already reduced or suspended services, while most carriers were avoiding Iranian airspace altogether.
“The situation may indicate further security or military activity, including the risk of missile launches or air defense systems being placed on alert, increasing the danger of civilian aircraft being mistakenly targeted,” the statement said.
Iran has previously shot down a commercial aircraft after misidentifying it as a hostile target. In 2020, Iranian air defenses downed Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 with two surface-to-air missiles, killing all 176 people on board. Tehran initially denied responsibility, calling the allegations Western propaganda, before later admitting the incident.
The airspace closure comes as some personnel stationed at a major US military base in Qatar were advised to consider leaving. The US Embassy in Kuwait has also “temporarily restricted” its staff from visiting several military bases in the Gulf Arab state.
Oil Prices Fall
Oil prices fell sharply on Thursday after President Trump’s comments on Wednesday eased concerns about instability in Iran.
According to AFP, West Texas Intermediate crude fell 3.0 percent to $60.16 per barrel, while Brent crude dropped 2.93 percent to $64.57 per barrel.
The decline followed Trump’s statement that he had been told the killing of protesters in Iran had stopped.
In an unexpected announcement at the White House, the US president added that regarding potential military action, “we’ll see.”
Iran Reopens Airspace to International Flights After Five-Hour Temporary Closure
Iran has reopened its airspace to international flights after a temporary shutdown that lasted nearly five hours.
According to international news agency Reuters, citing the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Iran announced at 1:45 a.m. local time on Thursday that it was closing its airspace to all flights except those arriving in or departing from the country.
However, the restriction was lifted approximately five hours later.Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 reported that Iran reopened its airspace at around 6:30 a.m. local time on Thursday.
The temporary closure forced several airlines to cancel or suspend flights, while many others were compelled to reroute aircraft to alternative paths.
Iran imposed the temporary shutdown at a time when US President Donald Trump had announced that Washington was considering various response options following reports of deaths during anti-government protests in Iran.
However, speaking later Wednesday night from the Oval Office, President Trump said that, according to information received from what he described as “credible sources,” the killing had stopped in Iran and that executions would not be carried out.
He added that the United States would respond forcefully if the killings resumed or if executions were implemented.
International Media Reports
