Donald Trump said he had received assurances that Iran had “stopped” killing protesters, delivering a more measured tone towards Tehran even as he did not rule out US military action.

"All the signals are that a U.S. attack is imminent, but that is also how this administration behaves to keep everyone on their toes," a Western military official told Reuters later on Wednesday.

Donald Trump and the Iranian leadership have traded threats in recent weeks with the US president warning that he would take action if executions of protesters takes place

The United States and Britain are pulling troops from the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar ahead of potential U.S. military intervention against Iran.

Amid President Donald Trump’s continuing threats to attack Iran, some military personnel have reportedly been asked to leave the US military base in Qatar, raising concerns that a strike could be imminent.

Tonight, as the US moves some troops out of the Middle East in anticipation of possible attacks in Iran, Trump is sending a different message than his promise yesterday to send help to Iranian protestors.

While several of the Gulf Arab countries harbor little love for Iran, they worry that the consequences of rising tensions could blow back on them.