The United States military aircraft that left Al Udeid air base in Qatar on Wednesday are now making their way back. Reuters reported this development, citing three sources familiar with the situation. The security alert level at the base has been reduced after a heightened state of alert was triggered earlier.
Personnel Return to Base
Some personnel who received advice to leave the base on Wednesday have also been permitted to return. This shift follows statements from former US President Donald Trump regarding the situation in Iran.
Trump's Comments on Iran
Trump said he received information that killings during Iran's crackdown on protests were decreasing. He expressed his belief that there is no current plan for large-scale executions in Iran. This represents a wait-and-see approach from Trump, who had previously threatened intervention in Iranian affairs.
Iran's foreign minister stated that the country has "no plan" to hang people. Iranian state media reported on Thursday that a 26-year-old man arrested during protests in Karaj would not receive the death sentence.
Execution Postponement
Rights organization Hengaw reported earlier this week that Erfan Soltani faced execution on Wednesday. The group now says the execution order has been postponed, according to information from Soltani's relatives.
Trump responded to news about the protester's reprieve on social media. He wrote: "This is good news. Hopefully, it will continue!"
Iran Reopens Airspace
Iran reopened its airspace shortly before 10 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday. This followed a closure lasting nearly five hours. The closure stemmed from concerns about possible military action between the United States and Iran.
The airspace closure forced airlines to cancel, reroute, or delay numerous flights. Iran had closed its airspace to all flights except international ones with official permission at 5:15 p.m. Eastern Time.
Flight Resumption
The notice about the airspace closure was removed from the US Federal Aviation Administration website shortly before 10 p.m. Eastern Time. Flight tracking service Flightradar24 showed five flights from Iranian carriers among the first to resume operations over the country.
These flights included aircraft from Mahan Air, Yazd Airways, and AVA Airlines. Flightradar24 noted that at a similar time last week, dozens of planes had been flying over Iranian airspace.
Are Tensions Actually Easing?
The situation remains uncertain regarding potential US military action against Iran. Social media reports suggested the United States canceled a strike on Iran at the last minute.
Several developments point toward reduced tensions between the two countries:
- US aircraft returning to their Qatar base
- Lowered security alert levels
- Iran reopening its airspace
These actions suggest the dispute between the United States and Iran may be easing. For now, neither country appears to be moving toward open conflict.
Trump has demonstrated unpredictable behavior in the past. His previous actions indicate he could still order military strikes. However, current circumstances suggest such action is unlikely at this moment.
The return of aircraft, reduced alerts, and reopened airspace create a picture of de-escalation. Both nations seem to be stepping back from the brink of confrontation, at least temporarily.
