Overview
- Iranian state television broadcast an image of President Trump from the 2024 Butler rally with the caption "This time, the bullet will not miss," which outlets including AFP reported as an apparent assassination threat.
- Trump has urged Iranian demonstrators to keep protesting, warned of strong action if killings continued, and said he was told the killings and planned executions had halted as he considers but has not approved military action.
- NBC News reported Trump directed advisers that any strike must be a swift, decisive blow, while aides cautioned they could not guarantee rapid regime collapse and questioned whether sufficient regional assets are in place.
- U.S. and allied forces have repositioned or withdrawn some personnel in the region, Qatar confirmed adjustments at Al Udeid Air Base, and Iran briefly closed its airspace as commercial airlines rerouted.
- Iran formally complained to the UN that Trump is inciting unrest and threatening its sovereignty, as rights groups report thousands killed and mass detentions under a communications blackout and Iranian officials say there is no plan to hang protesters.