US President Donald Trump says he has been told “on good authority” that plans for executions in Iran have been halted, even as Tehran continues fast-track trials as part of its crackdown on protesters. Trump had earlier told demonstrators that “help is on the way” and that his administration would “act accordingly” in response to reports of mass killings by security forces. Iran’s judiciary announced on Thursday that a man feared to be facing execution would not receive the death penalty, a move the US president described as “good news”.
Unrest across Iran has prompted the United Kingdom to shut its embassy in Tehran and withdraw staff, while India, Poland and Italy have urged their nationals to leave. Iran briefly closed its airspace on January 14 and 15 amid fears of possible US strikes before reopening, while Washington has withdrawn some personnel from regional bases as a precaution.
The true scale of casualties remains unclear due to a near-total internet blackout imposed since early January. A US-based rights group has reported more than 2,500 deaths, mostly protesters, while other sources cite much higher figures. Amnesty International has described the situation as mass unlawful killings on an unprecedented scale, with thousands also reported arrested.
The United Nations Security Council has met in emergency session, as the European Union, Canada and Australia announced fresh measures and renewed calls for accountability, while human rights groups are pressing for an international fact-finding mission.
US President Trump stated on January 15 that he has been assured the killings of protesters have stopped and there are no plans for executions, though he continues monitoring the situation while pulling back from immediate military threats. His earlier threats of strong action if executions proceeded appear to have influenced Iran to postpone the execution of protester Erfan Soltani, who was sentenced quickly after arrest. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, deny execution plans and reject reports of mass killings as misinformation.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session to address the escalating crisis in Iran, with several member states calling for an independent investigation into the alleged mass killings and urging immediate restoration of internet connectivity. The situation remains fluid and tense, with de-escalation signals from both Tehran and Washington, though underlying protests and repression continue across the West Asian nation.
