US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he has been assured that Iranian authorities have halted the killing of antigovernment protesters and suspended planned execution of Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old detained protester.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Trump said he had communicated with “very important sources on the other side” and would keep a close watch on developments. While striking a more restrained tone than in earlier remarks, he did not dismiss the possibility of US military action.
He also said Washington had received a “very good statement” from Iran, suggesting a shift away from immediate confrontation after previous threats of strikes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi supported that narrative in an interview with Fox News, stating there was “no plan for hanging at all” and that carrying out executions of protesters was “out of the question”, reports Al Jazeera.
Earlier developments had heightened regional anxiety. The United States and Britain pulled some staff from Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base following warnings from Iranian officials that US military installations in the region would be attacked if Washington moved against Iran. Several governments have since issued security alerts amid concerns that the situation could spiral into a wider conflict.
Tehran has repeatedly said it is prepared to respond forcefully if the United States intervenes. The wave of protests began in December, initially driven by economic pressures such as a falling currency and rising prices, before evolving into broader demonstrations against the government.
Iranian state media have acknowledged significant casualties but attribute the violence to “armed and terrorist groups”.
Human rights organisations reject that explanation. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports that more than 2,400 protesters have been killed, while Amnesty International has accused Iranian security forces of carrying out widespread unlawful killings. Al Jazeera has said these figures cannot be independently verified.
Meanwhile, Iran has been largely cut off from the internet for more than six days, according to monitoring group NetBlocks, deepening concerns about the flow of information during the crisis.
