A last-ditch telephone intervention from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reported to have persuaded former US President Donald Trump to call off planned air strikes on Iran, averting a major escalation as regional tensions neared boiling point.
The Brink of Conflict
According to a report from The New York Times, the situation was poised for a military confrontation in January 2026. Embassies in Tehran were being evacuated and airspace was being cleared, signalling that strikes were highly likely. The catalyst for the crisis was a violent crackdown on mass protests within Iran, with two Iranian officials telling the newspaper that at least 3,000 people had been killed.
It was at this critical juncture that Netanyahu reportedly spoke directly to Trump, urging him to hold off on any military action. The Israeli leader argued for more time to allow Israel to prepare for any potential retaliation from Iran following US strikes.
Trump's Sudden Shift and Claims of a Halt
Following the call, Trump publicly shifted his position, claiming he had received new information. "We were told that the killing in Iran is stopping, and there's no plan for executions," Trump stated. He attributed this intelligence to "very important sources on the other side," adding, "I've been told that on good authority."
On Thursday, January 16, 2026, the White House expanded on this, claiming that 800 executions had been halted in Iran. Trump later emphasised the scale of the de-escalation in a call with NBC News, stating, "We saved a lot of lives yesterday."
Shortly after Trump's comments, Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, told Fox News that there were no plans for the 'hanging' of protesters. This public messaging from both sides helped to cool the immediate crisis.
International Pressure and a Grim Domestic Reality
The diplomatic effort to prevent an attack was not limited to Israel. Delegates from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Egypt were also actively urging the Trump administration to show restraint and not launch strikes against Iran.
Meanwhile, the dire situation inside Iran continued. The government had cut off internet service across the country. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, Director of Iran Human Rights, issued a stark condemnation: "Horrifying eyewitness accounts of protesters being shot dead while trying to flee... all point to a planned and widespread crime." He called the actions of Ali Khamenei and his institutions "one of the gravest crimes of our time" and pleaded for immediate international action.
In a related development, a 26-year-old shopkeeper named Erfan Soltani, who was detained during the protests and thought to be the first facing the death penalty, saw his situation change. After initially fearing he could be executed at any moment, Iranian state media later reported that the charge of "colluding against the country's internal security" did not carry the death penalty if confirmed by a court, signalling a possible reprieve.
The combined effect of Netanyahu's direct appeal, international diplomatic pressure, and Iran's public assurances regarding executions created a narrow window that prevented a rapid escalation into a broader military conflict in the Middle East.
