Trump says ‘thank you’ to Iran for not hanging protesters
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he had thanked Iran’s leadership for cancelling the planned executions of hundreds of protesters detained during a recent crackdown, claiming the move played a decisive role in his decision not to pursue military action.
“I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday — over 800 of them — have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran. Thank you!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The US president had repeatedly threatened military action against Iran over the past two weeks, saying any intervention would be aimed at protecting protesters amid reports by human rights groups that Iranian security forces had killed thousands during nationwide unrest.
However, Trump said earlier this week that he had been informed the killings had stopped, prompting him to pause any immediate action. On Wednesday, he publicly stated that executions linked to the protests had been halted.
Addressing reporters on Friday before departing the White House for Florida, Trump dismissed suggestions by Gulf officials that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman had played a role in persuading him to avoid military escalation.
“Nobody convinced me — I convinced myself,” Trump said, stressing that Iran’s actions were the determining factor in his decision.
“They didn’t hang anyone. They cancelled the hangings. That had a big impact,” he added.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have remained high, with Trump’s remarks signalling a temporary easing of pressure as the situation inside Iran continues to draw global scrutiny.
