15.01.2026 12:19
Iran has made consecutive moves following the protests in which nearly 3,000 people were killed. Iran has reopened its closed airspace. Trump stated that assurances were given that protesters would not be killed in Iran. Iranian media reported that protester Erfan Soltani was not sentenced to death.
The death toll has risen to 2,615 due to the ongoing clashes in Iran for 18 days. While reactions from around the world continue to come in, tensions in Iran are decreasing.
TWO CONSECUTIVE MOVES As part of the normalization efforts, Iran reopened its airspace, which had been closed. Trump stated that assurances were given that protesters would not be killed in Iran. Iranian media reported that protester Erfan Soltani was not sentenced to death.
FLIGHT BAN LIFTED IN THE MORNING HOURS According to the NOTAM announcement published on the website of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Iran closed its airspace to flights at 01:25 Turkey time. Under this decision, only international flights that had previously obtained official permission to land and take off in Iran were exempted.
NOTAM was lifted from the system approximately five hours later, around 06:00. According to flight tracking service Flightradar24, the first flights seen again in Iranian airspace were five flights belonging to Mahan Air, Yazd Airways, and AVA Airlines.
While Iranian authorities did not share an official justification for the closure and reopening of the airspace, the decision was made during a period when the U.S. threatened to intervene in the ongoing protests in Iran and security tensions were rising.
Erfan Soltani IRAN: SOLTANI NOT SENTENCED TO DEATH Tensions had escalated until U.S. President Donald Trump's speech on January 14, but after Trump's statements, the level of tension began to decrease.
Trump stated that assurances were given that protesters would not be killed in Iran and expressed that a possible U.S. intervention was not on the table for now. Saying "We'll wait and see," Trump also spoke about Erfan Soltani, who was alleged to be sentenced to death in Iran. The U.S. President, who said that executions would not take place, stated, "Many executions were supposed to happen today, but these executions will not take place; we will see."
On January 15, Iranian state media reported that Iran's judiciary did not sentence Erfan Soltani, who was arrested during the protests, to death.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: THERE WILL BE NO EXECUTIONS In parallel with Trump's speech, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi also spoke to the U.S. Fox News channel, stating, "There will be no executions." Arakchi said that Tehran has no plans to execute regime-opposing protesters, stating, "Executions are not on the agenda." According to claims, the family of death row inmate Erfan Soltani was told that the execution was postponed.