US President Donald Trump on Friday thanked Iran’s leadership for halting the executions of hundreds of protesters, claiming the move averted a potential US military response.
Trump posted on his Truth Social network that he “greatly respects the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday, have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran.” He added, “Thank you!”
Trump dismissed claims that Gulf countries or Israel influenced his decision not to act militarily, asserting that Iran’s actions alone swayed him. “Nobody convinced me; I convinced myself,” he told reporters as he departed the White House for Florida. “They didn’t hang anyone. They cancelled the hangings. That had a big impact,” he said, highlighting the significance of Tehran’s decision.
The White House confirmed on Thursday that Iranian authorities had halted 800 scheduled executions amid ongoing nationwide protests.
Officials said Washington is continuing to closely monitor the situation in the country. The move comes after weeks of unrest following the December 28 death of Mahsa Amini, which sparked large-scale demonstrations across Iran.
Trump has repeatedly expressed support for Iranian protesters, urging them to continue their demonstrations and take over institutions. He has warned that Tehran officials would “pay a high price” if the executions of demonstrators were carried out, and vowed that the US would respond with “very strong action” should any hangings proceed.
The protests, widely condemned by Iranian authorities as riots fueled by foreign intervention, have reportedly resulted in thousands of casualties, though official figures on deaths or detainees have not been released. Iran has accused the US and Israel of backing the unrest and promoting “terrorism” within the country.
The cancellation of the executions has been seen as a de-escalatory step in the ongoing tension between Washington and Tehran, though international observers continue to express concern over human rights violations in Iran.
Trump’s statements emphasize his administration’s focus on leveraging US influence to prevent further bloodshed while signaling support for the demonstrators.
