Iran protests highlights: Iran chief justice questions protesters, human rights groups object

The Indian Embassy in Iran on Wednesday issued an advisory asking Indian nationals who are currently in the country hit by unrest to leave by available means of transport, including commercial flights.

“It is reiterated that all Indian citizens should exercise due caution, avoid areas of protests or demonstrations, stay in contact with the Indian Embassy in Iran and monitor local media for any developments,” the advisory posted on X said.

All Indian nationals in Iran have been advised to have their travel and immigration documents readily available with them.

Iran protests LIVE: US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was informed the killings of protesters in Iran had been halted, but added that he would "watch it and see" about threatened military action.

Trump had repeatedly talked in recent days about coming to the rescue of the Iranian people over the crackdown on protests by the Khamenei-led clerical regime.

Trump said at White House on Wednesday he had now received assurances from "very important sources on the other side" that Tehran had now stopped, and that executions would not go ahead, hinting a pause on a possible US military action.

"They've said the killing has stopped and the executions won't take place -- there were supposed to be a lot of executions today and that the executions won't take place -- and we're going to find out," AFP news agency quoted Trump.

Asked by a reporter in the Oval Office if US military action was now off the table, Trump replied: "We're going to watch it and see what the process is."

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi later said there would be "no hanging today or tomorrow," in an interview with US network Fox News, while accusing Israel of orchestrating violence, without providing evidence. There were reports that Iran was going carry out its first execution of the anti-Khamenei protest on January 14.

Iran protests LIVE: A US carrier strike group is being moved from the South China Sea to the CENTCOM area of responsibility, a News Nation reporter who covers the White House said on X.

“US MILITARY HARDWARE MOVING TO THE MIDDLE EAST AMID TENSIONS WITH IRAN… The U.S. is moving a carrier strike group from the South China Sea to the CENTCOM area of responsibility, a source with knowledge tells me @NewsNation…That will take a week or so to complete,” the journalist wrote.

Iran protests LIVE: Indian airline IndiGo said some of its international flights would be impacted by Iran's sudden airspace closure. Air India also said its flights were using alternative routes that could result in delays or cancellations.

Iran reopened its airspace after an almost five-hour-long closure amid concerns about possible military action between the US and Tehran that prompted several airlines to cancel, reroute or delay some flights.

Iran protests death toll: Activists warned that hangings of detainees could come soon. The security forces' crackdown on the demonstrations has killed at least 2,615, a US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported.

The death toll surpasses that of any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades.

Iran protests LIVE: With the NOTAM closing Iranian airspace expired, some flights are now making their way toward Tehran, according to Flightradar24.

NOTAM refers to Notice to Air Missions - an official aviation notice issued to alert pilots, airlines, and flight planners about temporary or time-critical information such as airspace closure that could affect the safety or operation of flight

Iran protests LIVE: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will be meeting Thursday on Iran unrest, AFP news agency reported, citing the presidency.

Iran protests LIVE: The US is withdrawing some personnel from bases in the Middle East, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing a US official, after a senior Iranian official said Tehran had warned neighbours it would hit American bases if Washington strikes.

As Iran's leadership moves to suppress what it describes as the most severe domestic unrest in the Islamic Republic's history, Tehran is attempting to keep US President Donald Trump from following through on repeated threats to intervene in support of anti-government demonstrators.

A US official, who requested anonymity, said Washington was withdrawing some personnel from major regional bases as a precaution amid rising tensions.

"All the signals are that a US attack is imminent, but that is also how this administration behaves to keep everyone on their toes. Unpredictability is part of the strategy," a Western military official told Reuters later on Wednesday.

Iran protests LIVE: Protests began spreading in late December 2025 after the Iranian rial plunged to historic lows, sharply increasing inflation and cost of living. Demonstrations spread rapidly across all 31 provinces, attracting wide participation from workers, students, and shopkeepers.

The Iranian regime, led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, imposed one of the most extensive internet blackouts seen in recent years to limit communication and independent reporting, almost cutting Iran off from the rest of the world.

The protests in Iran triggered warnings of intervention from the President Donald Trump-led US administration, which has not had cordial ties with the Iranian regime over its nuclear ambitions.

The unrest in Iran, regime's crackdown that has reportedly killed over 2,600 people and US's warnings have led to the domestic protest turning into international tensions.

Since the protests began, over 2,600 have died in Iranian regime's crackdown on the protesters, which has also prompted US to issue warnings of stepping in. Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights without explanation early Thursday as tensions remained high with the US.

The airspace closure also came parallelly to US's reported withdrawal of some personnel from bases in the Middle East. A US official said on Wednesday that troops were being moved after a senior Iranian official said Tehran had warned neighbours it would hit American bases if Washington strikes, Reuters reported.