Iran further extended an order closing its airspace to commercial aircraft without explanation early on Thursday (January 15, 2026) as tensions remained high with the United States over Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests.

A notice to pilot said the closure was estimated to last until 7.30 a.m. local time. A previous order had closed the airspace for just over two hours.

The Iranian government offered no explanation of the decision to shut its airspace.- AP

People wave flags during a demonstration in support of the national protests in Iran, in Barcelona, Spain on January 13, 2026
| Photo Credit:
Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump was consulting with his national security team about next steps with Iran as he looked to get a better understanding of the number of Iranian citizens who have been killed and arrested in more than two weeks of unrest throughout the country.

Mr. Trump said he believes that the killing is “significant” and that his administration would “act accordingly.” Since the protests began on Dec 28, 16,700 people have been arrested and more than 2,000 have been killed, the vast majority protesters, according to Human Rights Activists News Agency. The organization relies on a network of activists inside Iran that confirms all reported fatalities.

Meanwhile, Iran’s government accused the United States of seeking to manufacture a pretext for military intervention, after Mr. Trump threatened “strong action” over the deadly crackdown on mass protests. The demonstrations are the biggest Iran has seen in years — protests spurred by the collapse of Iranian currency that have morphed into a larger test of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s rule.

Read live updates here: