- News
- World
- Middle East
Britain and US remove staff from military base as Donald Trump ‘ready to push button on strikes’ amid repression
Alex Croft, Namita Singh, Bryony Gooch & Jane DaltonThursday 15 January 2026 01:15 GMT- Bookmark
- CommentsGo to comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks
Close popover
CloseTrump says ‘Iran should behave’ in warning over nuclear tensions
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents
Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents
Get a weekly international news dispatch
Email*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice
Iran has restricted the entirety of the country’s airspace as US president Donald Trump has threatened strikes over the regime’s brutal crackdown on popular protests.
A Notice-to-Airmen reads that Iran’s airspace will be closed to all flights, except those with previous permission from the Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation.
Meanwhile, the UK has closed its embassy in Tehran and withdrawn staff from Iran and both Poland and Italy have urged citizens to leave the country.
Tehran warned other regional countries that it would attack if the US launched military action on it in response to the deadly repression – which the US president has been threatening for days.
The UK is also pulling staff from a military base in Qatar, and the US is reducing its personnel numbers at its Qatari Al-Udeid air base – the Middle East's largest US base, housing around 10,000 troops.
President Trump is said to be “ready to push the button” on military strikes against Iran if the government starts executing protesters.
Recommended
From all-out war with US to the return of an exiled prince: What happens next in Iran?
Trump sends message to Iranian protesters: ‘Help is on its way’
How Iran is ‘jamming’ Starlink satellites to stop horror of protest crackdown reaching the outside world
Iranian protester to be executed as regime steps up brutal crackdown, rights group claims
Key Points
- UK shuts Tehran embassy
- Staff advised to leave US base in Qatar amid threat of Iran strike
- Iran warns neighbours it will strike US bases if attacked
- Iran death toll rises to at least 2,571, says monitoring group
- Iran restricts airspace for most flights
- Iran says 'hanging is out of the question'
GOP Senator meets with exiled Crown Prince of Iran, says US action must happen 'sooner rather than later'
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says he is pushing for the US to take action in Iran “sooner rather than later.”
“I believe that President Trump is serious when he says help is on the way,” he told reporters, adding that “an attack on the regime is the only help that really matters.”
Graham also posted a video after meeting with the Exiled Crown Prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi.
“I have followed you your passion the way you articulate the hope of your people,” Graham told Pahlvi.
“It will be up to the people of Iran to pick their next leader. I can't wait until they have a chance to do that, but you are really risen to the occasion... and I believe with all my heart that help is on the way.”
Watch it here:
Mike Bedigan15 January 2026 01:15Iranian government holds mass funeral
A mass funeral was held in Tehran for some 100 security force members killed in the demonstrations. Tens of thousands of mourners attended, holding Iranian flags and photos of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The caskets, draped in Iranian flags, stood stacked at least three high. Red and white roses and framed photographs of the dead covered them.
(AP)Bryony Gooch15 January 2026 01:00In pictures: Protesters across the globe set alight pictures of the Ayatollah
APTOPIX Germany Iran Protest (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
(Yui Mok/PA) (PA Wire)Bryony Gooch15 January 2026 00:42US government warns against non-essential travel for citizens in Qatar
The US government says it has urged caution on its staff at the embassy in Qatar, which lies across the Persian Gulf from Iran.
“Given ongoing regional tensions, the U.S. Embassy in Doha has advised its personnel to exercise increased caution and limit non-essential travel to Al Udeid Airbase,” the U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs wrote on X.
“ We recommend U.S. citizens in Qatar do the same. The U.S. Mission to Qatar continues to monitor the situation.”
Mike Bedigan15 January 2026 00:26Lufthansa rejig flight operations across Middle East
Germany issued a directive cautioning the country's airlines from entering Iranian airspace, Flightradar24 says.
Lufthansa had rejigged its flight operations across the Middle East amid escalating tensions in the region.
Lufthansa said on Wednesday that it would bypass Iranian and Iraqi airspace until further notice while it would operate only day flights to Tel Aviv and Amman until Monday next week.
Jane Dalton15 January 2026 00:01Iran says 'hanging is out of the question'
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday "there is no plan" by Iran to hang people, when asked about the anti-government protests in the Middle Eastern nation.
"There is no plan for hanging," the foreign minister told Fox News in an interview on the "Special Report with Bret Baier" show. "Hanging is out of the question," he said.
Bryony Gooch14 January 2026 23:58Tehran blames US and Israel again
Tehran is still blaming the US and Israel for starting the popular street activism that has swept the country.
Mohammad Pakpour, commander of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, reiterated claims, without providing evidence, that the US and Israel have instigated the protests, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency.
He added that those countries will "receive the response in the appropriate time".
A protester in Berlin, Germany, smokes a cigarette after lighting it off a burning poster of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)Jane Dalton14 January 2026 23:15Iran restricts airspace in new NOTAM
Iran is closing its airspace to all flights except international flights to and from the country with permission, according to Flightradar24.
The NOTAM is valid for a little more than 2 hours.
Bryony Gooch14 January 2026 22:46Iran hints at rapid trials and executions
Iranian officials have signalled that fast trials and executions lie ahead for suspects detained in nationwide protests.
Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, Iran's judiciary chief, said the government must act quickly to punish more than 18,000 people who have been detained through rapid trials and executions.
Activists warned that hangings of detainees could come soon.
Jane Dalton14 January 2026 22:30Six US Air Force KC-135s depart from Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar
Six US Air Force KC-135s have departed from Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, according to Flightradar24 after the US announced personnel would be leaving the military base.
Bryony Gooch14 January 2026 22:00Newer1 / 9OlderMore about
IranDonald TrumpTehranIsraelDeath PenaltyUSQatarJoin our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
