Reza Amiri Moghadam, Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, disclosed that Donald Trump, the US President, communicated to Tehran his intention not to launch an attack on the Islamic Republic to support the popular uprising over the cost of living while requesting that Iran demonstrate restraint as well.
The Iranian envoy revealed that he received the message around 1 a.m. Pakistan time (20:00 GMT) on Wednesday. The communication indicated that the US President sought to avoid a broader war but demanded that Iran refrain from attacking American interests in the region.
According to Pakistani media, the diplomat further stated that the situation in Iran was currently "fully under control," noting that no demonstrations were taking place in Iran presently, notwithstanding pressure from the United States and Israel.
US aircraft that were temporarily relocated from Al Udeid on Wednesday are now slowly returning to the base, according to one source who spoke with Reuters. Additionally, two diplomats, speaking anonymously, confirmed that some personnel who had been instructed to leave the base on Wednesday have now been allowed to return.
The most significant development came as regime-affiliated media confirmed that the death penalty would not be carried out against Erfan Soltani. The 26-year-old had become a symbol of the uprising after his arrest during anti-regime demonstrations in Tehran.
Video: Iranian security on the streets of Tehran / Credit: Iran International
President Trump moved quickly to embrace the concession. Writing on his social media network, he praised the decision to spare the young protester. "Fox News: Iranian protesters will no longer be executed following the warning of President Trump. This applies to others as well," Trump wrote. "This is good news, let's hope it continues."
On Wednesday, Trump made similar comments, effectively defusing the tension that had been building up on a possible US strike on the regime in support of the protesters and after vowing that "help was on the way" in the face of the mass carnage perpetrated by the regime (estimated at thousands of dead). "We have been informed by very important sources on the other side, and they said the killing has stopped and the executions won't take place," he said, according to NBC News. He added a caveat: "I hope it's true. Who knows?" Regarding military action, he stated: "We're going to watch and see what the process is," as reported by NBC News.
Tension on the ground
Despite the diplomatic reprieve, the situation inside Iran remains volatile. The news site Iran International, citing sources within the country, reported that the regime has tightened its grip on major urban centers. Large contingents of police and Revolutionary Guards – equipped with armored vehicles and machine guns – have deployed into city centers to enforce order.
Visual evidence supports these reports; filmed testimony from Shahsavar (a city in northern Iran) showed regime gunmen patrolling the streets in pickup trucks, signaling that while executions may be paused, the security crackdown continues.
Meanwhile, the US Department of the Treasury released information indicating that heads of the ayatollah regime transferred tens of millions of dollars to accounts outside the Islamic Republic during the height of the protests – a sign that leadership may be preparing for worst-case scenarios even as they project strength at home.
