Iran closes airspace as Donald Trump warns US are ‘locked and loaded’ amid deadly protests

Iran temporarily closed its airspace for over two hours on January 15 amid escalating tensions with the United States, as deadly anti-government protests continue with over 2,571 reported deaths

Iran has grounded all flights across its territory following escalating tensions with the United States.

The Middle Eastern nation shut down its airspace in the early hours of Thursday, January 15, as anti-government demonstrations continued to rage.

Flight-tracking site FlightRadar24.com posted on X: “NOTAM just issued by Iran closing airspace to all flights except international flights to/from Iran with permission. NOTAM is valid for a little more than 2 hours.”

A real-time map from Flightradar24.com revealed no aircraft were detected over Iranian territory shortly before 4am local time.

Demonstrations broke out across Iran in December over the nation’s struggling economy, but swiftly transformed into calls to topple the Mullah regime that has maintained iron-fisted control since 1979, reports the Express.

Pictures from the unrest show the capital Tehran covered in graffiti, whilst reports suggest demonstrators have been calling for the death of 86 year old supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Protesters have taken to the streets despite being met with violent crackdowns from security forces.

Media outlets have reported footage showing rows of body bags at morgues in the capital.

The death toll from the nationwide demonstrations reached at least 2,571 by early Wednesday, January 14, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, whilst over 18,100 people are reported to have been arrested.

These numbers are widely thought to be underestimated and could surge dramatically if Iran proceeds with executing protesters. The planned executions swiftly grabbed the attention of US President Donald Trump, who has cautioned Iran against employing force on demonstrators.

Trump and senior Iranian figures have traded warnings during the continuing unrest, heightening tensions between the nations further.

Whilst the American leader had issued threats of retaliation over protester deaths, he stopped short of detailing his intended course of action.

Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that should Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” America “will come to their rescue”.

“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump declared, offering no further details.

Trump had previously assured Iranian people that “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”

Iranian state television hit back by broadcasting footage of a 2024 assassination attempt on Trump, with the chilling caption: “This time, the bullet won’t miss.”

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