On January 15th, Iran unexpectedly closed its airspace overnight, raising concerns that military tensions in the Middle East were entering a highly sensitive phase, with many Western military officials warning that a US attack was "very close." This development quickly became the focus of international media attention, against the backdrop of continued intense confrontation between Washington and Tehran on both military and human rights issues.
According to Western security sources cited by Middle Eastern regional media, all signs on the ground indicate that the US is preparing for an escalation scenario, although it cannot be ruled out that this is also a psychological pressure tactic to force Iran to make concessions. Late on January 14, Iran issued a Notice to Pilots (NOTAM), ordering the closure of all airspace to civilian and military flights. This decision was made very suddenly, causing air traffic in Iranian and Iraqi airspace to be almost empty for a short period, according to data from international flight tracking systems. The airspace restriction order was reportedly in effect for more than two hours, enough to spark a series of speculations about the risk of an impending conflict.
You may not know this, but the BingX exchange offers many privileges for new members and VIP members.
Earlier, President Donald Trump publicly warned that the US would take “very strong action” if the Iranian government continued to suppress protesters. His statement was XEM as the latest tough signal in Washington’s foreign policy toward Tehran, especially as human rights issues are becoming a flashpoint in bilateral relations. Meanwhile, Iran showed no signs of softening. Iranian Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad declared that the government would severely prosecute those participating in the protests, whom he called “terrorists,” demonstrating Tehran’s firm stance in the face of international pressure.
Simultaneously, a wave of diplomatic evacuations unfolded rapidly, reflecting the growing concern of Western nations. Poland, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom all advised their citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible. Notably, the British Embassy in Tehran temporarily closed and evacuated all diplomatic staff, just hours after the United States issued a similar warning to its citizens.
