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Signs of Trump-Iran deescalation as US troops return to Qatar base

Al-Monitor Staff
Al-Monitor Staff
Jan 15, 2026
AL UDEID, QATAR - DECEMBER 30: Members of the Petroleum Oils and Lubricants (POL) squadron at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing take a break from replacing a 50,000-gallon fuel bladder in support of Operation Enduring Freedom December 30, 2002 in Al Udeid, Qatar. The POL squadron recently had to replace 11 of their 20 fuel bladders due to notification of a bad lot number. (Photo by Cherie A. Thurlby/USAF/Getty Images)
Members of the Petroleum Oils and Lubricants squadron at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing take a break from replacing a fuel bladder on Dec. 30, 2002, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. (Cherie A. Thurlby/USAF/Getty Images)

Tensions between the United States and Iran appeared to ease Thursday, with US personnel beginning to return to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar after a partial evacuation earlier this week. The move followed a lowering of the threat level at the base after several days of heightened risk of a direct US-Iran military confrontation.

The shift coincided with signs of cooling market fears, with crude prices dropping more than 4% amid expectations that Washington would refrain from immediate military action despite ongoing unrest in the Islamic Republic.

The easing follows days of high tensions after US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened intervention over Iran’s violent crackdown on protesters. On Wednesday, Trump said the Iranian government’s killings appeared to have stopped, warning that Washington would be “very upset” if executions resumed.

Iran Human Rights, an Oslo-based monitor, has reported that at least 3,400 people have been killed since protests erupted on Dec. 28. On Thursday, Iran’s judiciary said a protester the United States feared faced imminent execution would not be sentenced to death.

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