We have developments in the Middle East, where Iran appears to have reopened its airspace following a brief overnight shutdown, as President Donald Trump claims the killing of protesters inside the country is coming to a halt.
Flight activity resumed Thursday after Iran closed its airspace for roughly five hours overnight, a move that disrupted regional air traffic. According to aviation risk-monitoring group Safe Airspace, the closure followed the issuance of a Notice to Air Missions, known as a NOTAM. While airspace restrictions were lifted, many international airlines continue to avoid Iranian skies amid ongoing security concerns.
Safe Airspace warns that civilian aircraft face a significant risk of being misidentified by Iranian air defense systems during periods of heightened tension. The organization currently classifies Iran’s airspace at its highest risk level, labeled “One — Do Not Fly.”
The reopening came as President Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday that he had received information suggesting that violence against protesters in Iran was slowing.
“We’ve been notified — strongly — but we’ll see what it all means,” Trump said. “We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping.”
However, that assessment was quickly challenged by Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Writing on social media, the Republican senator said evidence indicates the Iranian regime’s crackdown remains ongoing.
“The death toll is mounting by the hour,” Graham wrote, adding that he hopes international help arrives soon.
Meanwhile, human rights groups paint a grim picture on the ground. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, known as HRANA, reports that nationwide protests have entered their eighteenth consecutive day. The group says Iranian authorities continue to enforce a near-total internet blackout.
According to HRANA’s compiled data, at least 617 protest gatherings have taken place across 187 cities. More than 18,000 people have reportedly been arrested, and over 2,600 deaths have been confirmed. The agency says the vast majority of those killed were protesters, including at least 13 children.
President Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran to halt the violence. In several posts on Truth Social, he threatened action against Iran’s leadership, saying the United States was prepared to respond.
“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump wrote earlier this month.
He also announced that he had suspended all meetings with Iranian officials and urged protesters to seize control of state institutions, warning those responsible for abuses that they would be held accountable.
As tensions remain high, and the humanitarian situation continues to unfold, uncertainty surrounds both Iran’s internal stability and regional security.
We will continue to follow this story closely.
Reporting by Carl Montel.
