President Donald Trump said he has been told “on good authority” that the killing of protesters in Iran is slowing or has stopped, and that plans for executions are no longer moving forward — even as Iranian officials signaled they intend to pursue swift trials and severe punishment for thousands detained in the unrest.
Trump’s remarks came amid intense international pressure over Iran’s crackdown, which a US-based monitoring group says has caused more than 2,500 deaths since protests erupted across the country in late December. Tehran has not issued an overall casualty figure.
While Trump publicly suggested the violence may be easing, Iranian leaders have continued to frame the unrest as foreign-backed, accusing the United States and Israel of fueling the demonstrations. Iran’s judiciary has also spoken about accelerating prosecutions, with officials emphasizing that punishments must be carried out quickly to have an impact.
The situation has prompted the Trump administration to weigh its response. US officials have discussed options that range from diplomatic measures to potential military action, even as Washington prepares for possible retaliation against American forces in the region if the crisis escalates further.