DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iranian officials reached out to governments across the Middle East on Wednesday as concerns mounted over the possibility of a U.S. military strike, one month after nationwide protests in Iran triggered a sweeping and deadly crackdown.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have both indicated they will not allow their airspace to be used for any military action against Iran. However, the United States has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers to the region, assets capable of launching strikes from the sea.
U.S. President Donald Trump has not publicly confirmed whether he intends to authorize the use of force, but he has drawn what he described as two “red lines”: the killing of peaceful demonstrators and the potential mass execution of detainees. Activists said Wednesday that at least 6,221 people have been killed since the protests began, a toll the Associated Press has been unable to independently verify due to Iran’s extended internet shutdown.
“Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS, one that is good for all parties,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Referring to U.S. strikes carried out in June, he added: “The next attack will be far worse!”
Inside Iran, state-run media, which now refers to protesters as “terrorists,” remains the primary source of information for many after Tehran cut off access to the global internet nearly three weeks ago. Satellite-based connections, including Starlink, have allowed limited footage and reports to reach activists abroad, fueling public anxiety as the country’s economy continues to deteriorate.
“I feel that my generation failed to give a better lesson to younger ones,” said Mohammad Heidari, a 59-year-old high school teacher in Tehran. “The result of decades of teaching by my colleagues and me led to the death of thousands, and maybe more injured and prisoners.”
Regional diplomacy intensified as Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said its top diplomat, Badr Abdelatty, held separate calls with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, seeking to “work toward achieving calm” and prevent further regional instability. Iranian state media quoted Araghchi as saying third-party mediators had also made contact. The White House did not immediately comment.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, reiterating that the kingdom would not permit its airspace or territory to be used for military operations against Iran. The UAE has made a similar pledge. Both countries host U.S. forces and have previously faced attacks linked to regional conflicts, including a 2019 strike that briefly halved Saudi oil production and missile and drone attacks on the UAE in 2022 claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Qatar, home to the U.S. military’s largest base in the region at Al Udeid Air Base, confirmed that its prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, held calls with Araghchi and Iranian security official Ali Larijani. Details of those discussions were not disclosed.
Iran launched missiles at Al Udeid in June after the United States sent warplanes to strike Iranian nuclear enrichment sites following a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran.
“Our position is exactly this: Applying diplomacy through military threats cannot be effective or constructive,” Araghchi told reporters outside a Cabinet meeting. “If they want negotiations to take shape, they must abandon threats, excessive demands, and the raising of illogical issues. Negotiations have their own principles: they must be conducted on an equal footing, based on mutual respect, and for mutual benefit.”
Human Rights Activists News Agency, a U.S.-based group that tracks unrest in Iran, reported Wednesday that its verified count of 6,221 deaths includes at least 5,858 protesters, 214 government-affiliated forces, 100 children, and 49 civilians who were not demonstrating. The group said more than 42,300 people have been arrested. It verifies reports through a network of activists inside the country.
Iran’s government has placed the death toll at 3,117, saying 2,427 were civilians and security forces and labeling the remainder “terrorists.” In past episodes of unrest, authorities have been accused of underreporting casualties.
The scale of the violence surpasses that of any protest movement in Iran in decades, evoking comparisons to the turmoil of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The demonstrations began on Dec. 28 after a sharp fall in the value of Iran’s currency, the rial, and rapidly spread nationwide. They were met with a forceful response that has only gradually come into clearer focus as Iran endures what officials and activists describe as the most comprehensive internet blackout in its history.
On Wednesday, Iran also announced the execution of Hamidreza Sabet, who was convicted of spying for Israel. His death marked the 13th execution of an alleged Israeli spy since the June conflict.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
