Trump Says Iran Has Halted Protester Killings, Watching Closely

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he had been informed that Iran has stopped killing protesters and halted planned executions, though he stressed that the United States has not yet verified the claims.

Speaking at the White House, Trump said “very important sources on the other side” had assured him that the killings had stopped and that executions scheduled for the day would not take place. However, he added that Washington would “watch it and see” before making any decisions, including on possible military action.

Trump had repeatedly warned Iran in recent days, saying the US could step in to support the Iranian people after a brutal crackdown on nationwide protests. Rights groups claim the unrest has left at least 3,428 protesters dead.

When asked if US military action was now off the table, Trump replied, “We’re going to watch it and see what the process is.”

Iran Responds, Denies Executions

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later said there would be “no hanging today or tomorrow,” in an interview with US media. He accused Israel of fueling violence inside Iran, though he provided no evidence.

Araghchi claimed that protests, which began peacefully over economic hardship on December 28, turned violent between January 7 and 10 due to “external elements” aiming to provoke US intervention.

Iran’s Justice Minister Amin Hossein Rahimi echoed this stance, stating that after January 7 the demonstrations were no longer protests but criminal acts. He said those arrested during that period were involved in violence.

A human rights group also confirmed that the execution of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, arrested during the protests, would not take place as planned, citing information from his family.

International Concern Grows

Late Wednesday, the United Nations announced an emergency UN Security Council meeting to discuss the situation in Iran, requested by the United States.

Iranian officials insisted the country is now “in full control” and described the situation as calm following what they called days of “terrorist operations.”

Despite this, tensions remain high. Iran warned it would respond strongly to any US attack. A senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said a previous strike on a US base in Qatar showed Iran’s ability to retaliate.

Several countries took precautionary measures. Britain temporarily closed its embassy in Tehran, Germany’s Lufthansa avoided Iranian and Iraqi airspace, and US diplomatic staff in the region were advised to remain cautious.

Rights Groups Warn of Brutal Crackdown

Human rights organizations say Iran carried out its harshest repression in years under a five-day internet blackout. Amnesty International accused authorities of mass unlawful killings on an “unprecedented scale.”

Despite restricted internet access, verified videos showed bodies wrapped in black bags at a Tehran mortuary as families searched for missing relatives.

Iran Human Rights, based in Norway, reported that more than 10,000 people were arrested, with some detainees facing charges punishable by death, including “waging war against God.”

The protests are considered the largest since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, raising global concern over human rights, regional stability, and the risk of further escalation.