- Western officials warn US military strike could be “imminent”.
- European, Israeli officials say Trump appears poised to intervene.
- Tehran threatens retaliation against US bases in region.
Iran has closed its airspace to all flights except international flights to and from Iran with permission, flight tracking website Flightradar24 said on Thursday, as tensions between Tehran and Washington remain high.
The advisory is valid for a little more than two hours, Flightradar24 said on its social media profile.
This development comes after a Western military official told Reuters on Wednesday that “all the signals are that a US attack is imminent”.
The official added: “[…] but that is also how this administration behaves to keep everyone on their toes. Unpredictability is part of the strategy.”
Two European officials said US military intervention could come in the next 24 hours. An Israeli official also said it appeared Trump had decided to intervene, though the scope and timing remained unclear.
US President Donald Trump, in his recent statement today, signalled a cautious easing of fears that the crisis in Iran could escalate into a broader regional confrontation.
Trump said he has been told that killings in Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests were easing and that he believes there is currently no plan for large-scale executions.
Asked who told him that the killings had stopped, Trump described them as “very important sources on the other side”.
The president did not rule out potential US military action, saying “we are going to watch what the process is” before noting the US administration had received a “very good statement” from Iran.
In a televised interview on Monday, Trump had warned that the United States would take “very strong action” if Iran’s authorities went ahead with executing protesters they had detained during widespread unrest.
In response, Tehran warned neighbouring countries hosting US troops that it would retaliate against American bases if Washington carries out threats to intervene in protests in Iran.
