Trump chooses sanctions over strikes, for now, against Iranian regime
There was widespread expectation of US strikes when, in the early hours of Thursday, Iran closed its airspace to all but a few select international flights to Tehran, and the US withdrew some personnel from military bases in the region.
But Trump softened his position at the same time, saying the US had received information from trusted sources that the killing had stopped and that executions of political prisoners would not occur.
Photos posted by Vahid Online on January 14, 2026, claim to show body bags at Kahrizak Forensic Medicine Centre in Tehran.
Iranian state media also cited officials saying 26-year-old protester Erfan Soltani, who was arrested last week, had not been sentenced to death and would not be executed.
Trump did not rule out military action, but said he would see whether the promises to stop killing protesters eventuated.
The Financial Times reported countries in the region such as Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia were engaged in intense diplomatic efforts to dissuade Trump from striking Iran.
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“Things have de-escalated for now,” one Arab official told The Financial Times. “The US is giving time for talks with Iran and to see where they go from here.”
Bessent appeared to offer an olive branch to Iranian leaders in his video message, telling them there was “still time” if they chose to “join us”.
“US Treasury knows that like rats on sinking ship, you are frantically wiring funds stole from Iranian families to banks and financial institutions around the world. Rest assured, we will track them and you,” he said. “But there’s still time if you choose to join us. Stop the violence and stand with the people of Iran.”
Some reports from Iran indicated protests were shrinking, although verifying information is difficult amid an internet and mobile phone blackout, and a ban on foreign journalists.
The Wall Street Journal quoted two protesters in Tehran who said the streets were calmer, with fewer protests and police roadblocks.
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