US President Donald Trump has conveyed to Iran that Washington does not intend to launch military action against the Islamic Republic, even as the United States quietly repositions military assets in the Middle East amid intensifying unrest inside Iran and rising regional anxiety.
According to the Jerusalem Post, which cited Pakistan’s Dawn, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, said Trump had sent a message urging restraint while assuring Tehran that there were no plans for a US strike. The communication came as Iran faces one of its deadliest waves of anti-government protests since the 1979 revolution.
Trump publicly echoed that position while speaking to reporters in Washington.
"We were told that the killing in Iran is stopping, and there’s no plan for executions," Trump said. "I've been told that on good authority. We’ll find out about it. I'm sure if it happens, I'll be very upset."
Protests, executions and Trump’s warnings
The protests, which erupted in late December, have been met with a severe crackdown. Human rights groups estimate that more than 2,600 people have been killed, with some putting the death toll above 3,000. According to the Human Rights Activist News Agency, at least 617 protest events have been recorded across 187 cities, with over 18,470 arrests and 2,615 confirmed deaths as the unrest entered its 18th day amid a communications blackout.
One case that drew international attention was that of 26-year-old protester Erfan Soltani, who had initially been sentenced to death. On Thursday, Trump highlighted a report on his Truth Social platform, writing:
"FoxNews: 'Iranian protester will no longer be sentenced to death after President Trump’s warnings. Likewise others.' This is good news. Hopefully, it will continue!"
Trump has repeatedly expressed support for demonstrators. Earlier this week, he said, “I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS,” and added, “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
Asked later about his sources for claims that executions had halted, Trump said the information came from “very important sources on the other side.”
Diplomacy over strikes, but options on the table
The White House has acknowledged that military options were reviewed but said diplomacy remains the preferred course. CBS News reported, citing two US Defence Department officials, that Trump was briefed earlier this week on a wide range of military and covert options against Iran, including integrated military, cyber and psychological operations.
Despite the assurances to Tehran, the US military has moved to increase its readiness. News Nation reported that the Pentagon has ordered the redeployment of a carrier strike group from the South China Sea to the area of responsibility of US Central Command. The group, centred on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and supported by multiple warships including an attack submarine, is expected to take about a week to arrive.
CENTCOM oversees more than 4 million square miles across Northeast Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia, covering 21 countries including Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.
Officials have not publicly detailed the objectives of the redeployment, but it underscores heightened US military preparedness as tensions with Iran continue.
Regional alerts and base evacuations
Concerns about escalation have spread across the region. Iran has warned neighbouring states hosting US forces that American bases could be targeted if Iran is attacked. Iranian officials said Tehran had informed countries from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to Turkey of the risks.
In response, some US personnel stationed at Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military facility in the Middle East, were advised to leave. CNN reported that the move was a precautionary posture change rather than a full withdrawal.
The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia has also urged its staff to exercise increased caution, limit non-essential travel to military installations and review personal safety plans.
Diplomatic engagement has intensified alongside these security measures. Iranian officials have held talks with counterparts in Qatar, the UAE and Turkey. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed that “calm has prevailed”.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the unrest in a televised statement, saying that “as long as the government had popular support, all the enemies' efforts against the country will come to nothing”.
Unrest continues under the radar
Despite claims of reduced violence, international monitors say protests have not fully subsided. The Institute for the Study of War said there were “several indications that protests continue to take place in areas where protest activity was not recorded on January 12”, even as internet restrictions hamper verification.
State media in Iran have continued to broadcast images of large funeral processions for those killed in recent clashes, underscoring the scale of the unrest.
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