Iran stifles protests after US backs off immediate military action

However, the US president still warned that a military response to the killing of demonstrators remained possible.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Iran’s effort to stifle the nationwide protest movement appeared to be taking hold on Thursday after the United Sates dialed down threats of imminent military action.

However, the US president still warned that a military response to the killing of demonstrators remained possible.

President Donald Trump hinted at a pause in immediate action, though the administration said “all options remain on the table.”

While scenes of unrest eased in parts of Tehran—residents reported quieter mornings, fewer burned barricades, and a drop in gunfire—Iranian authorities continued to issue announcements describing mass arrests and the pursuit of what they called “terrorists.”

State outlets also claimed security forces were searching for Starlink equipment used to transmit videos outside the country.

Justice Minister Amin Hossein Rahimi intensified the government’s rhetoric, asserting that “since Jan. 8, we saw a full-fledged war, and anybody who was in the gathering since then is a criminal,” according to the judiciary’s Mizan news agency.

Iran’s leadership has simultaneously highlighted the physical destruction from the unrest, describing extensive damage to shops, government offices, ambulances, vehicles, and several mosques and shrines.

Chinese officials said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi assured Beijing that the situation had stabilized.

Even as Iran projected control at home, Washington increased pressure abroad. The United States announced new sanctions on Iranian officials tied to the violent crackdown, targeting figures accused of suppressing demonstrations that began late last month over a sinking currency and worsening economic conditions.

European governments signaled they were preparing their own measures, with the Group of Seven and the European Union examining additional penalties aimed at Iran’s ruling clerics.

The escalation of diplomatic action coincided with a U.N. Security Council session requested by the United States.

American officials said the meeting was necessary as Iran’s domestic actions and heightened regional tensions shifted rapidly.

Iran has repeatedly asserted that the threat to its internal stability comes from abroad, warning specifically about U.S. intentions after Trump said earlier in the week that “help is on its way” for demonstrators.