Iranian Airspace Reopens as Trump Signals De-escalation Amid Domestic Unrest

Iran reopened its airspace early Thursday following a near-five-hour closure that forced major international airlines to reroute or cancel flights. The temporary shutdown occurred amid heightened fears of a U.S. military strike in response to Tehran’s crackdown on nationwide protests. Human rights organizations report that over 3,400 people have been killed since the unrest intensified in early January 2026.

President Donald Trump appeared to lower the temperature on Wednesday, stating he had been told on "good authority" that executions and killings in Iran were stopping. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed this by denying any immediate plans for executions, though he maintained that the government has "full control" over what he termed "foreign-orchestrated riots." Despite the reopening of the skies, military precautions remain in place, with the U.S. and UK reportedly adjusting personnel levels at regional bases as a "precautionary measure."