Iranian authorities have restricted flights over the country until the morning of January 15. Earlier, it was reported that the US could strike Iran within a day, DW writes.
Iran has temporarily closed its airspace to all aircraft except for international flights with prior permission. This was reported on the website of the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization on the evening of Wednesday, January 14.
In the initial notification, the restrictions were set for two hours, but they were later extended until 07:30 the next day local time, according to the AP agency.
Current air traffic over Iran now (none) compared to the same time last week. pic.twitter.com/zsnQq3ahvQ
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 15, 2026
On January 14, a European official told Reuters that the US might attack Iran within 24 hours. The day before, US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with "very tough actions" if the authorities began issuing death sentences against protesters.
Trump: Executions of Protesters in Iran Not Planned
US President Donald Trump stated on January 14 that he has "reliable sources" indicating that executions of protesters in Iran are no longer planned. Earlier that same day, the head of Iran's judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, stated that the authorities must expedite judicial proceedings against 18,000 people detained during the protests and issue death sentences for some of them.
At the same time, Iran's Foreign Minister emphasized in an interview with FOX News that Iran has "no plans to hang people at all."
US Evacuates Military from Base in Qatar
Meanwhile, on January 14, the US recommended that some military personnel and staff temporarily leave the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar - the most important US military base in the Middle East, according to reports from Reuters and AFP, as well as CNN citing sources. An American representative told AP that this step is a precautionary measure.
About 10,000 military personnel and civilian employees are permanently stationed at the US base in Qatar. It also serves as the command center for American armed forces in the Middle East.
Protests in Iran
Anti-government protests in Iran have been ongoing since December 28, 2025. Initially, the residents of the country protested against the financial crisis amid the devaluation of the local currency, but soon the economic demands of the demonstrators shifted to political ones.
The protests have spread to more than 60 cities in 25 provinces of the country. The largest demonstrations are taking place in Tehran, as well as in the cities of Malekshahi, Kermanshah, and Lordegan in the west and southwest of Iran. The authorities have begun to suppress the protests, but there is no reliable information about what is happening - the internet has been down in the country for several days. According to the Norway-based human rights organization Iran Human Rights (IHR), at least 3,428 people have died during the protests, and more than 10,000 have been detained.
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