Iran Reopens Its Airspace and the Security Council Holds an Emergency Session

SadaNews - Iran reopened its airspace on Thursday after closing it for nearly five hours due to fears of potential military action between the United States and Tehran, which forced airlines to cancel some flights or alter their routes or postpone them.

This comes at a time when anti-government protests in Iran have continued for the third consecutive week, amidst heightened tensions and mutual political and media escalation between Tehran and Washington, alongside rising international concerns that the situation could slip into a broader confrontation in the region.

In a diplomatic and security move, several countries took measures including closing embassies, evacuating diplomats, and issuing travel warnings, while Iranian leaders threatened to respond to any foreign intervention.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration stated that Iran temporarily closed its airspace to all flights, except for international ones, before lifting the closure at 03:00 AM GMT, according to flight tracking site FlightRadar24, which showed five Iranian flights resuming operations over the country.

Meanwhile, an American official clarified that the United States has begun withdrawing some personnel from its bases in the Middle East after Iran warned its neighbors that it would target U.S. bases if attacked.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the Iranian government could fall due to the protests, adding that any other regime could fail as well, describing the upcoming period as "interesting."

Trump mentioned Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last Shah, expressing admiration for him but doubting his ability to garner support within Iran to assume power, explaining that if the people accept his leadership, it would be acceptable to him.

Trump has repeatedly warned of the possibility of military intervention in Iran in response to the repression, yet affirmed that diplomacy remains the "first option."

These statements coincide with diplomatic sources announcing an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council today, requested by the United States to discuss the situation in Iran.

The protests began in late December 2025, due to worsening economic conditions, and escalated after reports of protester deaths, while authorities attempted to curb the unrest by restricting internet access.