Iran on Thursday closed its airspace amid threats from US President Donald Trump over its crackdown on the protests which have rocked the Islamic Republic since the last two weeks.According to Human Rights Activists news agency, more than 2500 people have been killed in the demonstrations. The death toll included over 100 security personnel and thirteen childrenAdditionally, more than 18,400 people have been detained.Here are the top developments‘We are in full control’Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the claims of mass causalities and accused Israel of hatching a conspiracy to create a large number of causalities in the country.In an interview with the Fox News, Araghchi played down the death toll in his country and claimed that the number is in hundreds.“When terrorist elements led from outside, entered this, you know, protests and started to shoot, you know, police forces, police officers and security forces. And there were terrorist cells. They came in, they used Daesh-style terrorist operations. They got police officers, burned them alive, they beheaded them, and they started shooting at police officers and also to the people,” Iranian foreign minister said.“So as a result, for three days, we had, in fact, fighting against terrorists, and not with the protesters. It was completely a different story,” he added.During the interview, he also said that the Iranian government is not planning to hang the detained protestors, claiming that the situation is under government’s control.“We are in full control,” Araghchi said.“And let’s, you know, hope that wisdom would prevail. And we don’t go for a high level of tension, which could be disastrous for everybody,” he added.‘Do not repeat the same mistake’Responding to a question from Fox News host Bret Baier on whether he had a message for President Trump, who is considering some kind of action to help the protesters on the ground, the Araghchi said “My message is do not repeat the same mistake that you did in June,” the Iranian Foreign Minister said.“You know, if you try a failed experience, you will get the same result,” he added.“You know in June, you destroyed the facilities, the machines, but the technology cannot be bombed. And the determination also cannot be bombed,” Abbas Araghchi added.Iran extends airspace closureAmid the ongoing chain of events, Iran further extended its airspace to commercial aircraft. A notice to pilot said the closure was estimated to last until 7:30 am local time. A previous order had closed the airspace for just over two hours.However, the government offered no explanation of the decision to shut its airspace.Meanwhile, Air India and IndiGO also issued a travel advisory warning of possible delays as they said that their flights are using an alternative routing after the closure of Iran airspace.“Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace, and in view of the safety of our passengers, Air India flights overflying the region are now using an alternative routing, which may lead to delays,” it said in a post on X.“Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unforeseen disruption. Safety of our passengers and crew remains top priority,” it added.Additionally also requested passengers to check the flight status of their flights before heading to the airport.“Due to the sudden airspace closure by Iran, some of our international flights are impacted,” it said.“We remain committed to keeping you informed and supporting you through this evolving situation,” IndiGo added.US personnel advised to evacuate US military base in QatarEarlier on Wednesday, some US military personnel were advised to evacuate military base in Qatar as Trump warned of possible action after a deadly crackdown on protesters in Iran.The decision came as a senior official in Tehran brought up the country’s retaliatory attack in June at Al Udeid Air Base outside Doha, Qatar.An official, on the condition of anonymity, told news agency Associated Press that the move was precautionary and said such measures also were being taken across the region. The official, citing the need for operational security, would not go into further detail, including whether the evacuation was optional or mandatory, whether it affected troops or civilian personnel, or how many people were advised to leave.The US Embassy in Qatar issued a notice early Thursday saying it had “advised its personnel to exercise increased caution and limit non-essential travel” to Al Udeid Air Base. “We recommend US citizens in Qatar do the same,” it added. In Kuwait, the US embassy ordered a “temporary halt” to its personnel going to multiple military bases in the small Gulf Arab country amid heightened tensions. Kuwait is home to U.S. Army Central, the service’s Mideast command.Trump questions Reza Pahlavi‘s ability to run IranTalking to news agency Reuters, Trump said that Iranian opposition ​figure Reza Pahlavi “seems very nice” but expressed uncertainty over whether Pahlavi would be able to muster support within Iran to eventually take over.“He seems very nice, but I don’t know how he’d play within his own country,” Trump said. “And we really ‌aren’t up to that point yet.Trump’s comments went further in questioning Pahlavi’s ability to lead Iran after saying last week that he had no plans to meet with him.Trump added that it is possible the government in Tehran could fall due to the protests but ​that in truth “any regime can fail.”“Whether or not it falls or not, it’s going to be an interesting period of time,” he said.Currency collapse sparked demonstrationsThe demonstrations began December 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions levied in part over its nuclear program.Trump has repeatedly warned about potential US military action over the killing of peaceful protesters, just months after American forces bombed Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day war launched by Israel against the Islamic Republic in June.In other developments, a mass funeral was held on Wednesday 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.People elsewhere remained fearful in the streets. Plainclothes security forces still milled around some neighborhoods, though anti-riot police and members of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force appeared to have been sent back to their barracks.“We are very frightened because of these sounds (of gunfire) and protests,” said a mother of two shopping for fruits and vegetables, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. “We have heard many are killed and many are injured. Now peace has been restored, but schools are closed, and I’m scared to send my children to school again.”Ahmadreza Tavakoli, 36, told The Associated Press he witnessed one demonstration in Tehran and was shocked by the use of firearms by authorities.“People were out to express themselves and protest, but quickly it turned into a war zone,” Tavakoli said. “The people do not have guns. Only the security forces have guns.”