The White House said on Thursday that Iran had suspended hundreds of planned executions following pressure from US President Donald Trump, as mass anti-government protests continue across the country. US officials emphasized that military action against Tehran remains a possible response if the situation escalates further.
The statement comes amid one of the largest waves of unrest since the establishment of the Islamic Republic. Demonstrations, initially driven by economic grievances such as rising living costs, have spread nationwide and prompted a severe security crackdown. The unrest has reportedly resulted in significant loss of life and included a week-long nationwide internet shutdown.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the administration had been informed that approximately 800 executions scheduled to take place earlier in the week had been halted. She said President Trump had warned Iranian authorities of “grave consequences” should the killing of demonstrators continue, adding that “all options remain on the table.”
On Wednesday, the Norway-based advocacy group Iran Human Rights reported that Iranian security forces had killed at least 3,428 protesters, cautioning that the final number could be considerably higher as information continues to emerge.
President Trump said earlier that he had received assurances from what he described as “very important sources” within Iran that the executions would not proceed.
Regional allies have also moved to de-escalate tensions. A senior Saudi official told AFP that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman undertook urgent diplomatic efforts to dissuade Washington from launching a military strike, citing concerns about destabilizing repercussions across the Middle East. According to the official, the Gulf states pressed the US administration to allow Iran time to demonstrate restraint.
Iranian authorities, for their part, have characterized the protesters as “rioters” supported by foreign adversaries, including the United States and Israel. Officials have pledged swift legal action against those detained, raising fears among rights groups that accelerated judicial processes could lead to mass executions.
The Trump administration has repeatedly warned that carrying out death sentences against individuals arrested during the protests could trigger a forceful response from the United States.
