The United Nations Security Council is set to convene an emergency meeting on Thursday to address Iran’s deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, following a request from the United States. The move comes amid heightened tensions, though U.S. President Donald Trump has not specified what steps Washington might take against Tehran.
Iranian authorities appeared to strike a conciliatory tone in recent statements, seemingly aimed at easing international pressure after Trump warned of action to halt further violence against protesters. He also condemned reports of executions linked to Iran’s suppression of dissent.
According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 2,615 people have been killed during the protests, marking the deadliest unrest Iran has experienced in decades and drawing comparisons to the upheaval surrounding the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Earlier Thursday, Iran temporarily shut its airspace to commercial flights without providing an explanation. Meanwhile, some personnel at a major U.S. military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate, and the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait ordered a temporary suspension of travel to several military installations in the Gulf state. Iran had similarly closed its airspace during the 12-day conflict with Israel in June.
Trump Welcomes Reports on Detained Iranian Protester
President Trump described as “good news” reports suggesting that the death sentence against an Iranian shopkeeper detained during the protests had been lifted.
Relatives of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani had previously warned that he faced imminent execution. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump cited a Fox News report claiming that Soltani and others would no longer receive death sentences following U.S. warnings.
However, Iranian state media denied that Soltani had been sentenced to death, stating that he remains in custody at a detention center outside Tehran. Judicial authorities said he is accused, along with other protesters, of engaging in “propaganda activities against the regime.”
Trump earlier fueled tensions by pledging support for Iranian demonstrators and urging them to continue protesting. On Wednesday, he hinted at a possible easing of violence, saying he had been informed that the killings were coming to an end.
G7 Threatens Further Sanctions
Foreign ministers from the G7 nations—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States—and the European Union’s top diplomat issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over Iran’s response to the protests.
Published on the EU’s website, the statement said the group strongly opposed what it described as the Iranian authorities’ intensified and brutal repression. The ministers condemned the “deliberate use of violence” by security forces and voiced alarm over the high number of reported deaths and injuries.
The G7 warned that it remains prepared to impose additional sanctions if Iran continues its crackdown in violation of international human rights obligations.
China Calls for Restraint and Dialogue
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, who told him that the situation in Iran had “stabilized,” according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Araghchi expressed hope that China would play a greater role in promoting regional peace and stability. Wang reiterated Beijing’s opposition to imposing external pressure on sovereign nations and rejected what he termed a return to the “law of the jungle.”
Wang said China believes the Iranian government and people will work together to overcome challenges, preserve national stability, and protect their legitimate rights. He urged all parties to exercise restraint and resolve disputes through dialogue, adding that China is willing to play a constructive role in easing tensions.
